David P. Herrling, 80

David P. Herrling, 80, of Rehoboth Beach, Del., passed away peacefully, with his family at his side, on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at his residence.

Born Saturday, May 16, 1931, in Pomona, Calif., Herrling, a longtime vacationer to the Rehoboth Beach area and was a permanent resident since 2004, coming from Great Falls, Va. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of California-Berkeley, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and sang with a barbershop quartet. Herrling later relocated to the Washington, D.C., area and worked for the CIA as a special agent. His career enabled him to travel the world, including posts in the Middle and Far East.

After retiring from the government, Herrling took a position with the private sector as the head of security for BTG. He was a member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewes, Del. His hobbies included working with model trains, woodcarving, stamp and coin collecting, hunting, gardening and traveling.

Herrling was preceded in death by his parents, Harold E. and Josephine (Johnson) Herrling, and one brother, James Herrling. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth K. (Connolly) Herrling of Rehoboth Beach; a daughter, Maryjo Herrling Poisl of Kenosha, Wis.; two sons, David E. Herrling of Alexandria, Va., and James M. Herrling of Lovettsville, Va.; and four grandchildren, Ginny Herrling-Schetter of Kenosha, Wis., and James, Kimberly and Heidi Herrling, all of Virginia.

A Mass of Christian Burial was scheduled for April 9, 2012, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, with arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, both in Lewes, Del. Interment with full military honors was to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, Del. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorial contributions be made to SPCA; 22918 DuPont Blvd.; Georgetown, DE 19947.