David Harold Church, 69, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on December 25, 2023.
He was born on January 19, 1954, in Norfolk, VA, to parents David Valmore and Iris Elizabeth (Gray) Church.
From a young age, David was always active and loved the outdoors, and he carried this youthful enthusiasm for outdoor sports and activities throughout his life. David loved anything you could do at the beach, from running to riding his bike, skateboarding, skimboarding, boogie boarding, or even just throwing a frisbee or flying kite. It was only fitting that one day in 1982, on a regular beach run, he found the love of his life, Judith Elaine (Oster) Church, a kismet that led to 40 happy years of marriage.
For David, the only thing better than enjoying these hobbies was to enjoy them with his family, and his son, David Earl Church, who was a source of immense pride and joy. At family gatherings, you could always count on him to bring lighthearted fun and laughter whether through games, music, or stories. He was always quick to wrangle you into a yard game, and would never turn down the chance to play a video, card, or board game. David was also the family videographer and photographer – before it was cool – usually found behind the bulky 1980s video camera or setting up the tripod to corral the family into a group photo. He loved to share those videos and photos with his family years later, helping us all to savor the good times and have a good laugh looking back on fond memories.
Professionally, David dedicated himself to the field of construction as a drywall subcontractor. He took great pride in doing his work well, seeing it as an art that deserved to be done right; he would often point out the many housing developments he helped build while driving around Hampton Roads. He was an amazing problem-solver and craftsman, often coming up with ingenious ways to tackle difficult projects, that would leave his colleagues and clients wondering how he managed to complete complex projects by himself. This creativity and resourcefulness carried through all aspects of his life, where he would be quick to MacGyver up a solution to any problem that left the rest of us scratching our heads.
During the final years of his life, David battled several health conditions which he faced with optimism and perseverance, as he did with most of life’s challenges. The family would like to thank all of his healthcare providers, especially the staff at DaVita, for helping him to live his best life for as long as he could.
David will be remembered for the love, kindness, and time he spent with his family and friends. He inspired us all to find, remember, and savor the fun things in life, no matter the difficulties life throws in the way.
David is survived by his wife, Judith E (Oster) Church, his son, David E Church (Kaileen), his sister Carol A Davidson (Harry), and many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Betty J Wiley.
The family is holding a small private goodbye and will hold an intimate memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the PKD Foundation. David will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of his loved ones.
