MOUNT VERNON – David Craig Skeen, formerly of Mount Vernon and Utica, Ohio, and a longtime resident of Ventura, California, passed away on May 8, 2023, after a short battle with lung cancer.
David was born in Mount Vernon on Sept. 30, 1960, where he spent his childhood before moving to Utica, where he attended school until enlisting in the United States Navy in 1978.
David served proudly as a Seabee in a construction battalion in Guam, Diego Garcia and in Sicily, among other duty stations. Upon his discharge from the military at Port Hueneme in 1981, David decided he preferred sunny California to living in Ohio, and made his home in the Ventura area for the rest of his life, other than a short period of time when he lived in Newark, Ohio.
David worked in armed security for most of his adult life, and spent his free time cruising on the Pacific Coast Highway, alternating between his Harley and Triumph motorcycles, of which he was very proud. He also enjoyed painting in the style of folk art, primarily creating landscapes and images of homes and barns.
David is survived by his mother, Mary Skeen; siblings, Michael (Marian) Skeen, Rick (Nancy) Skeen, Kathy (Mark) Eichner and Jason (Barb) Skeen and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Skeen, who died in 2020.
Following cremation in Ventura, David will be laid to rest in a private family service at the Skeen Cemetery in Academia, Ohio.
Submitted by Michael Skeen.
