David Clayton Van Nest

After graduating from Cocoa High School, David served in the U.S. Navy aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Midway during WW II. After returning from the war David became employed by the S.F. Travis & Company Hardware and married Dolores Worley of Merritt Island.

During the early days of the Kennedy Space Center he took a position with Pan Am World Services as a Fire Fighter at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. During his employment with Pan Am David enjoyed many interesting assignments, one of his favorites being launch/rescue training with the Mercury, Atlas and Apollo Mission Astronauts.

After reaching the rank of Assistant Chief and 36 years of employment, David retired in 1992. After his retirement he married Joan Chabot and they moved to Maggie Valley, North Carolina after 25 years of enjoying retirement in the Smokey Mountains, they moved back to Rockledge to be closer to their families.

David was a member of the Masonic Lodge, American Legion, The Cocoa Lions Club and Cocoa Elks.

David is survived by his son David C. Van Nest, Jr. (Brenda), Pamela Schill (Johnny), grandchildren - Paul Kessel, III, Andrew Kessel, David C. Van Nest, III, Kyle Van Nest, Haley Schill-Hill and 8 Great

Grandchildren.

Services will be held at Brevard Memorial Funeral Home in North Cocoa at 11:00 a.m. followed by

Graveside Service at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims.

Donations made by made the Brevard Humane Society - 1020 Cox Road, Cocoa, FL 32926 - Thank You