Dave Ziegler

Published 2:00 am Thursday, June 16, 2011

The funeral for Dave W. Ziegler, 78, of Decatur will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Decatur with the Rev. Roger Jenkins officiating and Shelton Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery.

Visitation is from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Friday at the church.

He died Monday, June 13, 2011, at home.

Dave Ziegler was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Waxahachie, Texas, to Victor Percy Ziegler and Eula Smithwick Ziegler. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict.

Dave began a newspaper career at the Dallas Morning News in 1950 then relocated to Decatur in 1963 where he joined The Decatur Daily classified advertising staff. He retired from the Daily in 1994.

A longtime member of First Baptist Church, Dave served in several capacities including the media ministry, usher and Sunday school teacher,

Survivors include his wife, Darlene Sanders Ziegler; four sons, Joe Ziegler and wife Andrea of Chattanooga, Barry Ziegler of Madison, Garry Ziegler of Boston, Larry Ziegler and wife Teresa of Toney; and one sister, Alma Laura Bradshaw of Dallas. Dave was grandfather to six grandchildren, Addie, Sarah, Heather, Jonathan, Amber and Courtney; and two great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Bruce Cheatham, Don Dillard, Dave Pennington, Don Morrison, Bob Campbell and Ralph Martin.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Jesse Rogers/Bud Bryan Sunday school class and Charles Holmes.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley or First Baptist Church of Decatur.