David Tschopp

David Tschopp, 78, of Columbus, Ohio, and formerly of Camp Hill, PA, passed away on March 9, 2022, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of the late Hiram Smith Tschopp and Pauline (Gonder) Tschopp Berry, born on April 7, 1943, in Elizabethville, PA.

Harry Charles David Tschopp was a 1961 graduate of Upper Dauphin High School in Elizabethville, PA. He received his bachelor’s degree in Teaching in 1965 from Millersville State College (now Millersville University) in Lancaster County, PA. He married his life-long partner, Linda, in January 1965, during an ice storm the weekend before he started his student teaching assignment. They marked their 57th wedding anniversary this year.

Following his college graduation, David embarked on a 36-year career with West Shore School District, teaching 7th grade Life Sciences and 9th grade Biology at Allen Junior High School, continuing with 7th grade Science when it became Allen Middle School. He taught 8th grade Science at Lemoyne Middle School for the final decade of his career before retiring in 2002. He was renowned for being a tough but fair teacher, and his former students fondly recall his tradition of writing “Hello, my name is Mr. Tschopp/Sit down and shut up” on the blackboard for the first day of school. Continuing his love of teaching, upon his retirement from WSSD David was employed as a Facilitator at The Whitaker Center and a Tour Guide at Indian Echo Caverns.

For most of his teaching career, David was a wrestling coach at Allen Junior High School and Red Land High School, and he coached his daughters’ gymnastic teams at Allen Middle School during the early 1980’s. He saw his greatest accomplishments as recruiting new athletes and helping them excel. His wrestlers were his second family. “Coach” taught good sportsmanship and being part of a team; success on the mat was an added bonus.

David was an avid outdoorsman. He was a 33-year member of the White Deer Rod and Gun Club near Petersburg, PA, serving as Quartermaster for many of those years. He taught Hunter Safety to aspiring young hunters and enjoyed raising and training bird dogs. He and Linda traveled across the United States, Ireland, Europe, and to parts of Mexico. He was particularly fond of a salmon fishing trip to Kodiak Island, Alaska, and bi-annual wedding anniversary vacations to the Hawaiian Islands. His curiosity was his constant companion through all of his travels, as evidenced by his extensive travel journals.

David and Linda relocated to Westerwood Senior Living Community in Columbus, OH almost three years ago, to be near their youngest daughter. They embraced their new home, with David volunteering for many committees, participating in group outings, volunteering as the weekly Bingo caller, and playing in the illicit floating euchre game when COVID restrictions curtailed sanctioned activities in the community.

His greatest gift in life was helping others. He knew how to show up when someone was in need, from snowblowing all the neighbor’s driveways to traveling across the country with Lutheran Disaster Response. He made several trips to the Gulf Coast to provide hurricane clean-up assistance and spent numerous weekends in Central Pennsylvania providing recovery support to flood victims. He embraced the opportunity for hard work, and no task was too small or too big for him.

David is survived by his wife of 57 years, Linda (Huntzinger) Tschopp; daughters, Julie Fallon (Tony Brookman) and Lori Keyser (Christopher); grandchildren, Kyra Fallon Malone (Ron), Zachary Fallon, Cameron Keyser, Brenna Fallon, Bennett Keyser, and Miles Keyser; three great-grandchildren; brother, Dwight Tschopp (Ellen); brother-in-law, Steven Huntzinger (Michele Campbell); and many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Cleon Berry; brother, Russell Koppenhaver; and sisters-in-law, Edna Koppenhaver and Judi Koppenhaver.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30AM on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Camp Hill. Public viewings will be held the evening prior, from 6-8PM at Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, New Cumberland, and from 9:30-10:30AM on Saturday at the church. Following the funeral, a graveside service will be held at 2PM in Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Dave’s name to: Lutheran Disaster Response (https://www.elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response).