David died yesterday. He and his wife Shirley have been close friends of ours for many years. There's a saying that goes, "He didn't suffer fools lightly." David called them like he saw them. He wasn't afraid to say what he thought and didn't feel the need to explain himself about his position on a subject. But he was always ready to hear what you thought as well. He acted from principle and you knew you could trust his word.
He was always generous with a compliment and had a ready smile. He was at the same time an ornery practical joker as well as a true blue, always there when needed friend. There are stories of him and the guys who worked for him taking several local black kids of single moms on $200 each shopping trips at Walmart before Christmas at his expense;
or having Shirley go, as recently as a couple of months ago during a cold snap here in Florida, to buy hooded sweatshirts for street people and go with her to distribute them personally while he was struggling with chemo.
He was a remarkable builder and craftsman; he left a huge mark on Dayton with hundreds of wonderful, really well-built gorgeous homes. He treated his work crews like family and the loyalty ran both ways.
Somewhere along the way he was dubbed "Big Dave" and it was truly fitting. He was a big, strong, handsome, striking and some would say rugged individual. His presence showed a confidence based in self-made success and gratitude for his life. He loved his wife and showed it. He worked hard and played just as hard and you knew he did it all with joy.
I have not one negative memory of David. I can hear his laugh and see his mustached grin in my mind's eye and believe he is in the presence of God. I will miss him for the rest of my life.
