Jerome (Jerry) Thomas David

Jerome (Jerry) Thomas David, of Clifton, passed peacefully in his sleep Sunday, December 26, 2021. He was 89.  Visitation took place from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Clifton Funeral Home.  Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Clifton Funeral Home with internment following at Norse Cemetery in Norse.  

Jerry was born September 20, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, to Ralph and Theodora David. He grew up in the Detroit and nearby Mount Clemens area where he gained a love for boating that continued throughout his life.  A Korean War veteran, Jerry was a staff sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth.  He met the love of his life, Joyce Evelyn Grimland, while ice skating at Will Rogers Coliseum, and they married in Fort Worth on October 3, 1953. He was a millwright at General Motors in Arlington and retired after 32 years.  Jerry and Joyce raised two daughters while living in Fort Worth, Bedford and at Cedar Creek Lake.  Jerry enjoyed countless adventures with his family and friends at a weekend cabin owned by Joyce’s family at Lake Whitney. During this time, he and others, built their own fiberglass boats in the mid-1950s.  After moving to Cedar Creek Lake, the David family hosted large gatherings for family and friends at their lake house. With a boat capable of pulling multiple skiers, Jerry was the driver for the first-ever waterski show at CCL.  Jerry and Joyce traveled to Branson on a regular basis and enjoyed extended driving trips to the East Coast, and also to the West Coast and Canada.   He was very active at every church he attended, serving on church boards at various locations. In Clifton, he was a member of Peace Lutheran Church.  Jerry was a member of the Lions Club, American Legion and was a director with the East Cedar Creek Freshwater Supply District during its inception at Cedar Creek Lake.  In retirement, Jerry and Joyce built a house at Lake Whitney, then in Clifton and eventually moved to the apartments at Rainbow Village in Clifton. He was residing at the Sunset Home when he died.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Ralph (Buddy) David, sister Joan Gregory and sister Margie Mroz.

He is survived by wife Joyce David of Clifton; daughter Debbie and husband Greg Schneider of Granbury; daughter Connie and husband Ricky Richards, CAPT, USN (Ret) of Clifton; grandson USAF SMSgt Kyle Stryker and wife Katy of Abilene; granddaughter Candice and husband Hunter Heitman, TSgt, USAF (Ret) of Epworth, Iowa; grandson Travis Richards of Washington; granddaughter Kelly and husband Cody Keesee of Midland; grandson Russell Richards of Virginia; granddaughter Alison and husband Jake Blenden of Waco; granddaughter Kate Lynn and husband Billy Yoder of Navasota. He is also survived by sister Dorothy Kozlowski of Michigan and great-grandchildren Luke, Lily, Lana, Hudson, Harper, Haven, Emery, Norman, Grace, Judd, Collins and Lily.   

Memorials may be given to Peace Lutheran Church, PO Box 112, Clifton, TX  76634.