David William Zuck

David William Zuck

March 27, 1944 - January 29, 2025
Midlothian, Virginia

David William Zuck

March 27, 1944 - January 29, 2025
Midlothian, Virginia

Obituary

My Tribute to David from Sally

How to begin to convey my thoughts about someone I have loved for most of my life? David was a surprise gift to me. God’s gift as I see it now. We met in a drawing class at American University in 1965 when I was seventeen. It seemed like I instantly recognized him. Someone I’d seen around. I even checked different sources. Nothing. Why was he so familiar? He did seem like someone who might be in the similar circles that I traveled in. One splendid day he spoke to me and asked if he might paint a portrait of me. Of course this was to be just an art project. He came by my home and began his work. I sat so still I felt faint. Naturally the painting was not finished so he would have to come back next weekend. Much to my shock and amazement he suggested we see a movie together. So we did, we saw many movies together. And in the meantime we were growing closer and closer. We found many things we had in common, especially objects we could find and admire, like rocks and minerals. He collected butterflies and moths, which I had tried too. To us and maybe to you, so much in the world was fraught with curiously beautiful things.

We were married on my mother’s birthday, June 12, 1967. I was welcomed into his exemplary family. The first to welcome me and to make me feel at home was his mother, Florence, the kindest person I had known. As well as being the mother of four almost grown children, she assisted her husband, Robert, professor of Botany at Drew University, Madison New Jersey where they had established that department of study.

The home where they had raised their four children was a work of art. It had been a carriage house attached to an estate that had its glory days in the Golden Age of the previous century. Florence and Rob worked together and by their own labor turned it into a unique and comfortable home. Here they both were able to use their interests in plants to benefit the family and their community. Rob had a productive vegetable garden and Florence created an exquisite formal garden that was featured in numerous publications. Because David had been raised in such idyllic surroundings, he had developed an unconscious dedication to all things of natural beauty.

The first year we were married we moved to a little community in Upstate New York. This was where our baby boy, Jesse William, was born. To take care of his little family, David had secured a position as an art teacher. He was required to teach all grades, first through twelfth. Unfortunately he was overwhelmed and frustrated by this considerable challenge. It seemed as though he was neglecting his own talent as well.

As a result we returned to his home in Madison so he could find a different kind of work. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, David had been fascinated by the many physical forms in the natural world. As well as an interest in painting he also had a penchant for sculpture. But to express the forms he was driven to make real, the way he had them pictured in his mind, he needed to learn welding. He got a job at a machine shop and became proficient at that trade.

After a year in New Jersey, we moved south to Virginia where Florence had been raised. Here were friendly relatives who would welcome us since we were newcomers to this new unfamiliar place. Florence’s sister, Dorothy Franklin and her family lived in Richmond as did Florence’s sister, Grace. Margaret Mc Enally, the eldest of eight McEnally children, lived out in what was then rural Chesterfield County. She kept watch over her three elderly cousins and her father’s brother and his wife, Ted and Ellen McEnally. While she was dividing her time with them, she was in the process of building her own home on the sight of a Huguenot style home that had been built in 1789. This area had been purchased by her father after the Civil War. Here she established her own cozy little home.

The elderly cousins relocated because of age and Margaret purchased their little home, nicknamed “Greenways.” She had us in mind, since we needed a place to settle as Alice was on the way. It was perfect for us, forested and quiet and so far back from the road it had a long driveway. While we lived there, David took on various welding jobs to support his family, many of which were hazardous.

But the beauties of the natural world, Virginia is famous for, called him to go exploring. And exploring meant on his motorcycle where he experienced freedom and was surrounded by the world he loved. He had owned a motorcycle before I knew him. He had numerous bikes over the years, many exotic. We dated on a motorcycle, before the days of helmets. He had worked as a motorcycle mechanic before we were married. He even tried to get me to drive one but I spilled it on the gravel driveway.

Soon a night work job opened up at the Swift Creek Water Filtration Plant at the bottom of Swift Creek hill not far from our home. Aunt Margaret had once related that baptisms had been performed where Swift Creek meets Spring Run Creek. David worked there faithfully for twenty-nine years. The job schedule was an unusual one. Each shift was twelve hours long but with three days off. So once David got his rest he was able to tend to chores and work on art work. He was a talented and hard working person who could do just about anything. He could perform needed repairs on anything mechanical. He could plan and build any structure around the place that might be suggested.

This was now the early seventies. We both had a real “paradigm shift” in our understanding of this world we lived in. Our rather bleak outlook stemming from cultural Marxism, was transformed by the strong light of Truth originating in the Gospel. We now saw the earth to have been created and now sustained by a God. He even knew our inward being. He was powerful enough to have made the universe but intimate enough to hear our pleas. Why not? His wisdom had formed us in our mother’s womb.

As you might gather, this new view of the world affected David’s painting. Instead of painting to be admired and acclaimed, he now viewed his purpose differently. He saw his calling as one that could draw attention to the aspects of his subjects that were enchanting thereby casting a subtle reflection of the supernatural influence that had shaped them. Of course he would occasionally drift away from this outlook or he would be called away by just the issues of life. He did everything he did with his whole heart, seeking the very best he could do and certainly to the Glory of God.

His work is in many corporate offices as well as those at the Chesterfield Courthouse. He has been active in several art groups most recently the Rappahanock Art League where he maintained a space for many years. But I praise him not just for his beautiful painting ability but because he has been a loving husband, always supporting me in my chosen endeavors as well as those of Jesse and Alice. He has cared and provided for his family as a true leader and example. I know there will be a deep vacancy no one can ever fill. He was truly one in a million.

Many thanks to his nurse, Donna Upchurch from Trove Home Care for her loving care for David in the last 4 months of his life. Also, we are indebted to Pamela and Allen Walker for tending to his every need 24 hours a day for the last week of his life.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Foundation.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Visitation

  • Date & Time: February 7, 2025 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
  • Venue: Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service
  • Location: 6500 Iron Bridge Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23234 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (804) 275-7828

Funeral Service

  • Date & Time: February 8, 2025 (11:00 AM)
  • Venue: Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service
  • Location: 6500 Iron Bridge Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23234 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (804) 275-7828

Interment

  • Date & Time: February 8, 2025 (12:30 PM)
  • Venue: Sunset Memorial Park
  • Location: 2901 W Hundred Road Chester, VA 23831 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (804) 464-0125

Reception

  • Date & Time: February 8, 2025 (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
  • Venue: Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service
  • Location: 6500 Iron Bridge Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23234 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (804) 275-7828

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