David Wesley Ervin departed this life on June 18, 2026 at home after a long illness. He was born in Johnson City, Tennessee on November 30, 1945, son of the late Edward G. Ervin and Ethel M. Ervin. He is preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Eugene Love, Anna Marie Bone, Donald T. Ervin.

A Vietnam War-era military veteran, David served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963-1966. He was honorably discharged and moved to New Jersey, where he attended Essex County College in Newark and matriculated at Newark College of Engineering, (now New Jersey Institute of Technology), earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1974. Following his matriculation, David was hired by Exxon Research and Engineering Company in 1974. During the ensuing ten-year period he was a Project Startup Engineer and later Senior Staff Engineer in the Machinery Division in Florham Park, NJ. He was assigned to a number of projects including the Alaska Pipeline, the North Sea Platform, and the Venezuelan Pipeline.

From 1984 to 1995, David served as a municipal employee with the City of Plainfield. He began as a Staff/Principal Engineer in the City’s Engineering Division planning, managing and coordinating numerous public works projects. He was later promoted to Department Director and served at the pleasure of two Mayors in that cabinet role for almost 5 years.

In 1995, David went on to begin a 16-year executive career with the newly created PMUA as Assistant Executive Director. He retired from the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA) in 2010 after a forty-year professional career in project engineering and administration.

David was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha and the American Legion serving as past president of the American Legion Post 219.

He married Barbara A. Williams on July 8, 1987. This July would have marked their 39th anniversary. He is survived by his wife, a daughter (Courteney Daniél Ervin, Brooklyn, NY) & son (David Wesley Ervin II, Philadelphia, PA), three sisters (Beverly J. Fuller), (Judith E. Allen) and (Ethel Anita Ervin), and brother (Robert Allen Love), and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

David studied his bible daily and had a lifelong personal connection with God. He had a deep enjoyment of science, science-fiction, and fantasy and could often be found with a remote in hand, watching a futuristic show you’ve never heard of. He was an excellent home cook and knew his way around the kitchen and a barbeque grill. He will be remembered by family and friends for his unwavering sense of humor, robust laugh, and cheerful personality.

The Funeral Service will be livestreamed and can be accessed by visiting here: David Wesley Ervin