Carl "Dave" David Esch

Carl David Esch, known to us all as Dave, passed away on April 13, 2026 after fighting various forms of Dementia for over 16 years. Dave was born at Fort Meade, Maryland on May 29,1939 to Royal Leslie and Ethel Esch. He was number 3 of 4 sons. He lived on a variety of Bases for the first 12 years where he hated the constrictions. Since his father was the highest-ranking officer, the boys got away with nothing. He went to various elementary schools in the back of an Army truck. The family moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania while his father served in Korea, where he attended Keith School (a lab school of the Indiana State Teachers College) and finally Indiana High School. Following High School, he attended Indiana State College. He was the first in his family to attend college. Dave received his bachelor’s Degree from Indiana State College in Business Education and his MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Business Education. He had aspirations of becoming a CPA, but loved teaching and never pursued his original goal.

Dave joined the Army Reserves in his high school junior year. He completed basic training and began his eight-year obligation before he started college. The Army took advantage of his typing skills and made him company clerk. Dave started College in January,1958 and met his future wife on a blind date in March.

Dave married Phyllis (Gogniat) Esch on June 10, 1961, just two weeks after graduation and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dave and Phyllis welcomed their first child, Wendy Lynn (60) and adopted a son, Michael David (57). He was blessed with two wonderful grandsons, David Michael (26) and Nathaniel Jacob (23). Dave and Phyllis were parents to six foster children over a span of 6 years.

Dave worked for the Wilkinsburg School District in Pennsylvania for 35 years. He started teaching Jr. High typing and business math for the first 7 years and then taught High School Accounting for the rest of his career. He also taught continuing education at Boyce Community College.

Dave was a good Christian man and attended Trinity Tower United Methodist Church for most of his married life and was Church Treasurer for over 25 years. He did many jobs at the church during his time there.

Dave loved his family, golf, and archery. He and brother-in-law, Don, loved target shooting and he was so proud of shooting one arrow into the shaft of another in the target. He enjoyed golf and played as much as possible. Over the years he shot two holes in one. He was a strategic thinker, was great at puzzles, and enjoyed playing cards, Chess, and other games.