David Henry Oswalt

David (Dave) Henry Oswalt, 93, passed away peacefully Thursday, October 31,
2024 in Fairfax Virginia. He was born on January 9, 1931 in Mansfield, Ohio; the
third of three children to Roe Harvey and Alice Jane Oswalt. He graduated from
Mansfield Senior High School, attended Ashland College for two years, and served
in the US Air Force during the Korean War. Upon completion of his service, he
graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business
Administration and an MBA. While working at Wright Patterson Air Force Base
(WPAFB) he was selected for a prestigious Sloan Fellowship in Executive
Development at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a
Master's Degree in Industrial Management.
He served in senior civilian Air Force positions in the acquisition career field at
WPAFB, Ohio, HQ Air Force Systems Command; Andrews Air Force Base,
Maryland, and Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon. He was part of the
program team on the F-100, B-70, and X-15 aircraft programs. He served for many
years as the Director of Small Business for Air Force Systems Command. He
received many awards including the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award
which is the highest award granted by the Secretary of the Air Force to Civilian
Employees of the United States Air Force.
Dave was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather; a true
family man. During his life he loved family vacations including many trips to Gull
Lake, Canada, Disney World, the Florida Keys, Kelly's Island, and Ocean City,
Maryland to name but a few. He was an avid boater having spent years water
skiing and exploring on the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. Dave was
incredibly dedicated to physical fitness going to the gym three or more days a
week for seven decades. The gym was almost his second home! He loved
ballroom dancing at many events at the Officers Club, Elks Club and other venues.
He enjoyed watching his favorite sports teams including the Washington
Nationals, Ohio State Buckeyes, Virginia Tech Hokies, and Washington
Commanders. He also loved spending his retirement days wintering in Hawaii and
Florida enjoying the warmth of the sun and the ocean life.
He was a member of the Methodist Church.
David is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Bettye Ann Oswalt; his loving
children Bradley Oswalt and Jeffery Oswalt and stepchildren Mark Changizi and Jill
Changizi-Kerr; his daughters-in-law Karen Oswalt and Belinda Oswalt; his step
daughter-in-law Rali Bagheri and step son-in-law Keith Kerr; his grandchildren
Margaret (Oswalt) Mazzanti, Rebecca Oswalt, Jane (Oswalt) Burke, Christina
Oswalt, and Katherine Oswalt; his step grandchildren Daria Kerr, Hannah Kerr,
Liam Kerr, Elle (Changizi) Harmon and Wyatt Changizi; his great grandson Lorenzo
Mazzanti; and his nieces Sally Ledbetter, Polly Chandler, Nancy Patterson and
Judy McAfee and his nephews Rob Ward and Ron Heitz. He is predeceased by his
loving wife of 38 years, Sylvia Ann Oswalt, and his sisters Margaret (Margie) Ward
and Jean Heitz; and his step granddaughter Allison Kerr.
A memorial service will be held December 21, 2024 at Fairfax Memorial Funeral
Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 at 1:00 pm. A private burial for
family is scheduled at Quantico National Cemetery on December 23, 2024. In lieu
of flowers the family requests donations be made to the American Heart
Association.