David Hirt's Obituary
David “Dave” Hirt, the loving husband of Lynn, was born October 5, 1946 in Batesville, Indiana. His childhood years were spent in the Batesville community and he attended Oldenburg elementary school. After graduation from Batesville High School, Dave continued his education graduating from Ball State University in 1968, with a BS in Marketing.Dave married Merry Lynn Gardner in 1965. Following their graduation from college they returned to Batesville, where he began his career with Batesville Casket Company, a career that spanned 33 years. Dave initially began working in the sales department, and by the time he had reached retirement in 2001, had led the company as President and CEO for 13 years. He was devoted to funeral service throughout his life, beginning as a student working with the company during the summers, then on to his professional career at Batesville, and even into semi-retirement where he played a major role in the development of the Johnson Consulting Group. He was a past board member of the National Funeral Service Foundation and was an influential and dedicated funeral service leader.He was a former member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Batesville, Indiana where he served on the board and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was honored to also be a Kentucky Colonel. He had previously been a member of Hillcrest Country Club in Batesville where he had served on the board and was currently a member of Kensington Golf and Country Club in Naples, Florida and Champion Hills Country Club in Hendersonville, North Carolina where he initiated the Cow Bell Cocktail Parties.Dave had many interests, his family being at the top of the list, the numerous family gatherings being a testament to the love of family. He enjoyed sports throughout his early years and continued that interest into his adult life having been a player on the Batesville Champion Slow Pitch Softball Team. Dave loved the game of golf, most importantly he loved being with people and the social interaction of his golfing groups and friends.Dave and Lynn enjoyed their life together to its fullest…..for over 45 years. After Dave retired in 2001, they moved to Naples where they spent their winters and in the summers where they enjoyed their home in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Traveling was also a love both Dave and Lynn shared.Dave passed away in Naples, Florida on March 1, 2011 at the age of 64. He was preceded in death by his father Edward “Ed” Hirt and one brother Dale.Dave is survived by his wife, Lynn, three children: Natalie Maret and her husband Gary of Cincinnati, Ohio, Bart and his wife Sarah of Moore, Oklahoma, and Tracy Hirt and her fiancé Rich Underwood of Naples; his mother Cleo Hirt of Batesville; three sisters: Darlene Hirt of Batesville, Doris McKee and her husband Jeffrey, Donna Hirt and her partner Carol Trexler of Indianapolis, Indiana; two brothers: Dennis Hirt and his wife Jackie of Villa Hills, Kentucky, and Richard “Dick” Hirt of Batesville; a sister-in-law, Mary Pfeiffer and her husband Jay of Batesville and four grandchildren: Kelsea and Emily of Cincinnati, Ohio and Haley and Joey of Moore, Oklahoma as well as a grandchild expected in June. He will be missed by his many relatives and friends.Naples Service: Visitation will be held Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Fuller Funeral Home on Pine Ridge between Noon and 2:00 PM with a prayer service following at 2:00 PM.Batesville Service: Visitation will be held Monday, March 7, 2011 at Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM. A mass will be conducted at 11 AM Tuesday, March 8th at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, Indiana.Memorials may be made to the National Funeral Directors Association Foundation, 13625 Bishops Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin, 53005, www.funeralservicefoundation.org. Friends of Santa in Hendersonville, North Carolina, www.friendsofsantaclaus.org or Holy Family Catholic Church Cemetery Fund, 3027 Pearl Street, PO Box 98, Oldenburg, Indiana 47036.
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