Rev. David Hahn

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Rev. David Earl Hahn, 76, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, April 13, 2007, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Hahn was born Feb. 27, 1931, son of Lester Paul and Verdetta Conner Hahn. He and June Sarah Mayberry were married Jan. 25, 1953.

He attended Bollinger County schools and graduated from Lutesville High School at the age of 16.

Shortly after he went to work for John Hahn, his uncle, as a farm hand in northern Illinois. He returned later and attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Gir-ardeau.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Jan. 5, 1952, and completed a one-year tour of duty in Korea.

Hahn began to work for the Federal Aviation Agency in Florida, and later became an instructor at the Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City. During this time he served as president of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists.

For more than 30 years, he served as pastor in six independent Baptist churches throughout the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arizona, including New Testament Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff.

After becoming ill he became a lay minister in 1997. He and his wife moved back to Poplar Bluff in 2001. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church and was a part of the jail ministry and served as treasurer and music leader.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Ruth Hoover of Lees Summit, Mo., Joanna Bowles of Plano, Texas; his mother, Verdetta Seabaugh of Marble Hill, Mo.; a sister, Carol Angle of St. Louis; a brother, Gary Hahn of Marble Hill; and four grandchildren.

The funeral was held April 17 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Burial was in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery in Marble Hill with full military honors.