David Merrill Walthall

David Merrill Walthall of Dunedin, Florida passed away at his home on January 5 after battling kidney disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and dementia.  He was 91 years old. 

David was born on January 24, 1931, in Danville, Illinois to Vera and Vernon Walthall.  After graduating from Ridgefarm High School in 1949 he attended William Penn College where his education was interrupted by Army service in Korea.  Upon his return from Korea in 1954 David returned to college receiving a Bachelor of Arts from William Penn College in 1956, Masters from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1960 and Doctorate from Nova University in 1975.

David’s career as a teacher began at Albia High School in Albia, Iowa, where he taught history and coached basketball until moving to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1961 where he was a guidance counselor at St. Petersburg High School.  In 1965 he began a career at the St. Petersburg Junior College where he worked as a counselor retiring in 1995 as the Dean of Student Services.  David didn’t slow down in “retirement” working for another 21 years at Kenyon Dodge and Murray Motive where he loved the people and truly enjoyed his work as a driver, parts man and jack of all trades.

David served as a Life Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Dunedin, Florida where he was a member for 54 years.  He taught Sunday school, served on numerous committees, provided communion and visited shut-ins all to glorify the word of God.  Outside of church he volunteered as a guardian for wards of the court and developed close relationships with the men and women in his care. David was quick to help anyone in need, opening his home to many, offering his time to any that asked, and giving his heart to all.

After God, David’s greatest love was his wife Mary who he met in grade school, dated in high school and married during college.  Their love on Earth lasted 67 years and continues in spirit forever.    David is survived by his wife Mary Strubinger Walthall and son Brent Walthall, daughter-in-law Lynda Smith (Sacramento, CA) and Granddaughter Sydney Walthall (Boulder, CO) and his sister Olive Milledge (Larry) of Chariton, Iowa. He is predeceased by his son Bruce Allen Walthall (2021) his parents, sister Miriam Shipman (Donald) and brothers Louis Walthall (Betty) and Phillip Walthall. 

Services will be held at Vermilion Grove Friends Church at 1:00 p.m.  Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the services.  David will be laid to rest in the cemetery immediately adjacent to the church. 

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