Browse the obituary of David Lee Gill August 3 1938 December 14 2022 residing in Walla Walla, Washington for funeral burial details. Write a message of sympathy or a last tribute to perpetue the friendship thread
August 3 1938 December 14 2022
Obituary Please share a memory of David to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. View Tribute Book David Lee Gill was 84 years old when he passed away from congestive heart failure on December 14, 2022, at home with family by his side. David was born on August 3, 1938, in Oxford, Michigan, to Everett and Mary (Fenner) Gill. David was an only child and grew up as a farm boy in Ortonville, Michigan, working with dairy cows and chickens. David liked to tell how each and every cow had a name and how one of the cows would freely give him a ride back to the barn. In the winter when the snow was really deep, David recalled how they delivered milk right off the back of their tractor. Although David did not have any siblings, he loved to reminisce about their big family dinners at their farm. David was blessed with many cousins so it wasn’t unusual for them to have 40+ people at their family dinners. David later attended Adelphian Academy in Holly, Michigan. In the summer of 1957 after graduating from academy, David and his parents moved to Loma Linda, California, to a house right in the middle of an orange grove, until his mother’s asthma required them to relocate to a more urban location. David met Carol Lea around 1967 in Loma Linda, California, and they were married in June of 1968. They became a blended family with three children total: Todd, Brenda, Kari. David legally adopted Carol Lea’s daughter, Brenda, officially becoming her father. One of the first things they did as a married couple was to sell their cars and buy a pickup truck with a camper, as they could only afford one vehicle, and then spent many frugal, happy weekends camping with their children at Death Valley, Painted Desert, and other southern California locations. Before leaving California in 1974, David converted an old, full size city bus into a makeshift motor home with hanging bunk beds for the kids. They traveled for 6 weeks from the west to northern, eastern, and southern U.S., sometimes picking up a grandma or a cousin for part of the journey. The bus adventure continues to remain a fond family memory for all who rode the bus that summer, despite all the incredulous looks received along the way. While living in Madison, Tennessee, during their children’s teenage years, David and Carol Lea bought a boat and everyone in the family learned to water ski on Old Hickory Lake and had lots of fun boating and rafting down the Cumberland River. David and Carol Lea opened their home to various students throughout their many years together and also brought both of their mothers to live with them, building each of them residences attached to their home. David spent the majority of his career working for the Adventist Health System, including White Memorial Medical Center in east Los Angeles, Madison Hospital in Tennessee (now known as Tennessee Christian Medical Center) and later Moberly Regional Medical Center in Missouri where he oversaw the construction of the new Adventist hospital and then continued to stay there for a total of 14 years as Director of Plant Operations and as the administrator of their skilled nursing facility. In 1994 they relocated to Washington when David accepted a job at Walla Walla University as Executive Director of Physical Plant Operations, also overseeing the university’s marine biology station near Rosario Beach, Washington, on the west coast. David retired in Washington but enjoyed spending several winters with Carol Lea at the Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort in Niland, CA, near the Salton Sea (east of Palm Springs). They eventually bought a second home in the gated community there and jokingly referred to life there as “Disneyland for Adults” due to the numerous amenities offered. David and Carol Lea also enjoyed taking ATV trips with a group of ATV enthusiasts through the beautiful and stunning red rock landscapes of southern Utah, guided by their son, Todd and his wife, Sheryl. David’s Stateline Adventist Church family was very important to him as well and he served in various positions and boards throughout his remaining years in Washington, including service on the board of the Christian music station, KLRF at 88.5 FM. David is survived by his wife, Carol Lea; son, Todd Gill (Sheryl) of Missouri; daughter, Kari Nightingale of California; daughter, Brenda Adams (Don) of Washington; granddaughter, Hannah Parker of Washington; great-granddaughter, Claire Pennington of Washington; grandson, David Brown (Danielle) of Oregon; and other extended family and friends, including neighbors that were also considered family. The memorial service is yet to be determined but will be held at the Stateline Adventist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stateline Advent Media per David’s wishes, in care of Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt funeral home in Walla Walla, Washington. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of David, please visit our Tree Store or plant a tree. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of David Lee Gill August 3 1938 December 14 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Walla Walla, state: Washington