David M. Baldauf

David “Davey” M. Baldauf (Buck), age 73, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, formerly of New Castle, PA and the Shenango Valley Area, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at home.

He was born September 23, 1949, in New Castle, PA, a son of the late Francis Joseph and Martha Muse Baldauf.

A 1967 graduate of New Castle High School, he then attended Youngstown State.

Davey dedicated 40 years of his life to the explosives industry. He was a member of the International Society of Explosive Engineers. On April 28, 1989, he was given the Distinguished Service Award by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter Society of Explosive Engineers and was presented the President’s Award from the ISEE on February 15, 2000. He retired in 2006 as head of safety for Wampum Hardware, New Galilee, PA. He was also a member of Elks Lodge #69 of New Castle.

Davey was an avid Harley Davidson motorcyclist and made annual trips to Daytona Beach for bike week.

He was good-hearted, helpful and generous. Davey was a great conversationalist, interested in people, a born storyteller, and could always connect with anyone everywhere he traveled.

Davey was a loving and devoted husband to Kathryn J. Yencsik Swanson, whom he married on June 1, 2001.

Surviving in addition to his wife are his stepchildren, Deanne (Matt) Lauther of Sharpsville, PA and Dr. Jennifer Swanson (John Freeman) and Gregory Swanson both of Lakewood Ranch, FL; four step grandchildren, Madeline and Meredith Lauther and Collin and Sophia Freeman; one brother, Robert Baldauf of Blackwood, NJ; one sister, Mrs. Gerald (Mary Jane “Mimi”) Davis of New Galilee, PA; numerous nieces and nephews, in-laws, and many special friends.

He will be deeply missed by all who loved him dearly.