David A. Sweet was born Saturday, October 15, 1949 in Hammond, Indiana .
he died Tuesday, February 14, 2017.
Burial elsewhere - memorial stone only.
David A. Sweet, age 67, died suddenly, peacefully, mercifully at home on Tuesday, February 14 in Columbus, with his wife by his side. They had just come home from a lovely lunch out, both having completely forgotten it was Valentine’s Day. He had been taken under the care of Ohio Health Hospice just 6 days before. Dave was predeceased by his father, Paul E. Sweet in 1988 of pancreatic cancer, by his mother, Mary C. Sweet in 2013, and by his brother, Jerry Sweet just three weeks before Dave died. Jerry had esophageal cancer, but died of a heart attack. Dave is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cicily, and by his daughter Bevin (Mark) Reid, and his grandson Owen Stanley Reid of Columbus, Ohio, and his son, Paul H. (Devin) Sweet of Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by his other mother, Mary Lou Sweet of Kenton, Ohio, by his sister, Patty (Bill) Humpfer of Venice Beach, Florida, and by his brother, Mike (Beth) Sweet of Lewis Center, Ohio. He is also survived by beloved step-siblings, nieces, nephews and in-laws too numerous to mention. And friends. Dave WAS a good friend and, thus, he built many solid and enduring friendships over the years. During his last few years, his friends and family did not abandon him. If anything, their attention and devotion to him deepened. This was a blessing that he recognized and appreciated daily.
Dave was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in late 2004, and tried to keep active, including attending David Zid and Ohio Health’s “Delay the Disease” exercise classes frequently in his last few years. He was a bit of an upstart in those classes and made it his mission to get others to smile.
Dave was also diagnosed with lung cancer metastasized to his spine in late 2016.
Dave was born in Hammond, Indiana October 15, 1949 to Paul Eldon Sweet and Mary Catherine (Duncan) Sweet, the third of 4 children. He lived in Griffith, Indiana with both parents for several years. They divorced and his dad moved to Kenton, Ohio. He split his time between them, but ultimately moved to Kenton for his High School years. After graduating from Kenton HS in 1967, he moved to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University, his first immediate family member to attend college. He was at OSU during the 1970 spring protests and riots, and loved to tell the story of his arrest during a demonstration where he was “doing nothing, throwing nothing, shouting nothing.” He ultimately graduated from OSU with a BA in Sociology in 1971. By sometime in 1972, he had become a self-employed painting contractor. Over the years (40 years in business), he became very successful in this endeavor, ultimately painting mostly upscale custom homes and being known for his quality work. He had a finely honed skill for matching and coordinating colors.
Dave joined the Worthington Lions Club in about 1986, was very active in the club for many years, and had rejoined about a year before his death. He felt good about being a part of the community-based and humanity-minded work that they continue to do.
Dave's memorial service will be a Quaker-style service with plenty of opportunity for sharing thoughts. It will take place Sunday, March 12 at 3 PM at Xenos Christian Fellowship’s 4th Street Pavilion at 1934 N. 4th St Columbus 43201. It is on the east side of N. 4th between 18th and 19th.