David Joseph Compton Sr. (1934 - 2016)

David Compton Sr. was a wonderful member of our WikiTree community who has passed away. David Compton Sr. made many contributions and will be missed.

Biography

David Joseph Compton was born Aug. 29, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., to Robert V. and Ollie Reed Compton. He was a Navy Reservist for seven years. In 1959, he joined the active Army and served in Korea. He spent a total of 13 years in Germany and France, where he worked as a management specialist and construction inspector for the facilities engineers. During that time he traveled to Sweden, Denmark, Holland, England, Switzerland and Tunisia. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, in 1965-66 and 1969-70. He retired after 20 years from the U.S. Army, Fort Drum, N.Y., and settled in this valley, where he worked for the Sanctuary, a group home for delinquent boys, and for the Sharpsville Post Office for 3 1/2 years. He attended Penn State University. He first married Patsy Ann Holmes with whom he had 5 children. He later married the former Jeannette R. Disko on Dec. 11, 1961, in Washington, D.C., and they were together for 55 years.

He served as a board member of the Upper Shenango Valley Water Pollution Control Authority and the South Pymatuning Municipal Authority. He was a member of Sharon American Legion Post 299 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1338. He was a founding sponsor of the National Museum of the U.S. Army, a lifetime member of the American Military Retirees Association and the Society of American Military Engineers. He loved animals and supported many organizations against cruelty to animals and for preservation of wildlife. He also supported many local charities and children's hospitals. His hobbies were genealogy and collecting coins. He died 14 Dec 2016. David was mentioned on a memorial at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a death date of 2016.^[1]

When David became a WikiTree member he wrote this on his profile page at registration: "I enlisted In the U.S. Army on 4 may 1959 and stayed in service until 17 July 1979. I attained the Rank of Master Sergeant And Retired after having had heart attacks .I am currently married To the former Jeannette R. Disko and was previously married to Patsy Ann Holmes with whom we had 5 children David Joseph Jr., Lynette Michelle, Michael Paul, Patricia Marie and (Allen Blake Deceased)" First-hand information. Entered by David Compton at registration.

• In the 1940 census, he (age 5) was enumerated as the son of Robert Compton in Ward 28, St. Louis, St. Louis City, St. Louis City, Missouri, United States.^[2]
• In the 1950 census, he (age 15), Press Worker, was enumerated as the unmarried son of Virgil Compton in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.^[3]
• David (age 27), son of Robert Virgil Compton & Ollie Warrden Reed, married Jeannette Rose Disko (age 18), daughter of Joseph John Disko & Agnes Malgieri, on 11 December 1961 in Alexandria, Virginia, United States.^[4]
• David was mentioned in the obituary of his another person on 28 April 2008 in Missouri, United States.^[5]
• David was mentioned in the obituary of his another person on 29 April 2008 in Missouri, United States.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #191746010 : accessed 12 January 2026), Memorial page for David Joseph Compton (1934-2016), citing Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Victoria Cripps-Sauer (contributor 47399903).
2. ↑ "United States, Census, 1940," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: K7HK-PFM : accessed 12 January 2026) FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89M1-971J; citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 22; Digital film/folder number: 005460389; Image number: 875; Sheet number: 61; Sheet letter: A. The household was enumerated as Robert Compton 42, wife Ollie Compton 32, son Robert Compton 12, son Richard Compton 10, son David Compton 5.
3. ↑ "United States, Census, 1950," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: 6FM1-27RS : accessed 12 January 2026) FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-SQHW-V973-B; citing Page: 62; Line: 3; Digital film/folder number: 108949945; Image number: 64. The household was enumerated as Virgil Compton 51, wife Ollie Compton 42, son David Joseph Compton 15.
4. ↑ "Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1989," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: QVBY-VW8S : accessed 12 January 2026) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9BX-7N1N; citing Digital film/folder number: 101144619; Image number: 6; Certificate number: 36503.
5. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980-2015," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: QKG6-41N7 : accessed 12 January 2026) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSZ8-V6W6; citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 101976836; FHL microfilm: 101976836; Image number: 1386.
6. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980-2015," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: QKP3-JZH9 : accessed 12 January 2026) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSZ8-VDD7; citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 101976836; FHL microfilm: 101976836; Image number: 1439.

• See Also
• David Joseph Compton FamilySearch Person: L15V-V56