David J. Oberholzer, Captain United States Navy (Ret.), 91, of Bethlehem died peacefully on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at his residence. He is the husband of Barbara A. (Hanily) Oberholzer with whom he celebrated 62 loving years of marriage. He was born in Philadelphia on February 14, 1934 to the late Francis Joseph Oberholzer and Marianna Gertrude (Munday) Oberholzer. David graduated from Coopersburg High School and then graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Lafayette College with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

After college, he was commissioned in the Navy and reported aboard the destroyer USS Haynsworth in the Atlantic Fleet. While on active duty, he visited many ports in Europe, the Persian Gulf, Africa and North Atlantic. He retired from the Navy Reserve after 30 years of service with the rank of Captain.

David began his career in engineering at Western Electric Co. in Allentown where he held various engineering and management roles and retired from the company which became Lucent Bell Laboratories after 40 years of service. He was awarded two U.S. Patents in the area of LASER technology.

David was a 50 year active member of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of ASME, IEEE, Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu Engineering Honor Societies and worked as a licensed electrician and assisted with the electrical restoration work at Bushkill Park after the Bushkill Creek floods.

David enjoyed reading, sailing, woodworking and traveling. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Barbara; daughter Ann (John) Coffey of Ardmore, PA and children, Clare, Julian, John Jr. (Elizabeth), Joseph, George, Vincent, Rex, and Martha, and great grandchildren John III, June and William; sons Joseph (Kristie) of Dallastown, PA and child Ilse; David Jr. of Olney, MD and children, Erin, Ava, Addison, and David III; and Michael (Anjanette) Of Bethlehem and children, Hudson, Francesca, and Emery. He loved his children and sixteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren dearly. He was preceded in death by his Mother and Father and sister Mary Gertrude Moore, brothers Francis Joseph Jr., John (Cecelia), and Richard.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Notre Dame of Bethlehem Church, 1861 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Viewing will be from 6 to 8pm Friday at JAMES FUNERAL HOME, 527 Center St., Bethlehem and 9 to 9:45am Saturday at the Church. Interment will be at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem following the Mass.

Contributions: Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or to Catholic Charities, PO Box F, Allentown PA 18105

The Mass will be live-streamed. To watch the Mass, please click on the "Photo and Video" tab or scroll down to Webcast and click on the button. The service will go live at 10:00AM on Saturday, July 26th. Please be aware that the video is time delayed.