Dave was born on January 12, 1937 in Avoca, Iowa. When he was 7 years old he moved with his parents (George and Marjorie) to California. He lived in Hawthorne and graduated from Hawthorne High School where he played on the football team, wrestled, ran track and was the drum major for the band. He played the saxophone and clarinet in marching band and the jazz band. He was in the Boy Scouts where he performed Native American Dances and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended El Camino College and Mt. San Antonio College. He served in the National Guard. He worked in the lab at Arden Farms.
He married Jacquie Jacobsen in 1957 and together they had four daughters: Cheri, Cyndi, Chris, and Cathi. Sadly, Jacquie died in 1967. He married Gail Forrester Cook in 1972 and became dad to her two daughters: Dorothy and Susan. In 1973 David Lee joined the family. During these busy years Dave was the manager of L-W Athena, a company that made film analyzers. He later became the owner of the firm.
He loved to do wood working projects and enjoyed photography as well. He led songs and directed the choir at his church. He and Gail taught an adult Sunday School class and were Jr High youth group sponsors. He served as an elder in two different churches. He joined the Gideons International in 1992 and enjoyed distributing Bibles at various schools. He was the Gideon Card Chairman for many years.
He loved his family which came to include sixteen grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Despite a debilitating stroke in 1993, he was able to work and travel. He enjoyed many cruises including the Panama Canal and one to New Zealand and Australia. He graduated to heaven on December 21, 2021