David Warren Raybell's Obituary
David Raybell passed away at the age of 77 on April 16th, 2023 at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin "Buzz" Raybell and Flora (Bradbury) Raybell, his sister D'averil Ibbotson, and his son Mark Bishop.
He is survived by his wife Mary Raybell, daughters Serin (Mike) Anderson, Rebecca (Jason) Weisenhaus, Deborah (Lee) Simpson, Mary (Michael) Jahner, son Sean Raybell, and 11 grandchildren.
"Heroes are boring." That's what a creative writing instructor in college started his class with. It's true. Nobody's perfect, and without flaws, no heroic figure is worth paying attention to, as there is no journey.
David Raybell certainly went on a journey through life. The church bells rang out for Victory in Europe Day in South Bend, WA on May 8th, 1945, and his mother was confused (and flattered?) that the town was making such a fuss as she gave birth. He grew up loving the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, He saw plenty of the nation and possibly more of the world than a mother could wish for as he joined the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam in the Mobile Riverine Force and across the Pacific on the USS Granville Hall for Project Shad.
Dave came back home, and sometimes struggled with moving forward in life as he married, divorced, married again, and became a father at least half a dozen times over in most of the ways legally recognized by the state. While he died with one child from birth, he was proud to care for others and others came to lovingly call him Dad.
He used his GI Bill to train as a welder and machinist, and became a master machinist for his livelihood. He worked many years at locations such as Strike Brothers, Occidental Chemical, and the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. His artistic side came out as he lived for shared joys and helping others with his gourmet cooking, calligraphy, writing, and visual arts. The man could fix almost anything and is remembered for his sense of humor.
He is survived not only by those he helped raise, but those he helped entertain and those he helped through their times of need. And in that helping he in turn gathered delight and wisdom. You can be a genius at age six, but you don't gain wisdom without the long journey. At the end of this journey, we can only say fair winds and following seas on this next one.
Jesus was his Savior and he shared his faith and teaching with others.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Isiah 40:31
What’s your fondest memory of David?
What’s a lesson you learned from David?
Share a story where David's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with David you’ll never forget.
How did David make you smile?