David V. Brant, was book editor for NRA

David V. Brant, a retired book editor and avid reader, died Friday from heart failure at his Columbia home, where he had lived since 1975. He was 80.

David Vincent Brant was the son of Vincent Brant, former head of the mathematics department for Baltimore County public schools, and Fern Brant, a homemaker. He was born in Chestertown and raised in Dundalk and Lutherville.

He was a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, and in 1959 obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from the Johns Hopkins University.

After his time at Hopkins, he served in the Army before working briefly as a schoolteacher. He subsequently was a technical writer for Black & Decker Corp. and was employed in the city’s department of finance.

In 1980, he was named book editor for the National Rifle Association, a position he held until he retired in the 1990s.

In addition to enjoying reading, he collected historic firearms and liked participating in marksmanship competitions. His wife of 50 years, the former Joyce Presti, died in 2009.

Mr. Brant was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church of the Resurrection, 3175 Paulskirk Drive, Eliicott City, where a memorial Mass wil be offered at 11 a.m. Monday in its chapel.

He is survived by a son, Mark Brant of Catonsville; and a daughter, Cathleen Lawrence of Ellicott City. Another daughter, Lisa Brant, died in infancy.