David Carl Otholt

To David Carl Otholt, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For David, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. David really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

David was born on December 15, 1945 at Alea Hospital in Alea, Hawaii. His parents were David and Crystal Otholt. Even as a child, David had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, David was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, David managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. David was raised with five siblings. He had an older sister, Edna; two younger sisters, Alice and Lucy; and two younger brothers, Ronald and Richard.

All of David's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, David experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in football, and in his spare time he liked fishing and bowling. David's memorable achievements included earning numerous football and bowling trophies.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that David was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, David simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for David, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was David's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” David graduated from Aldea High School in 1964. His favorite class in high school was P. E.

David never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed David to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. David delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, David was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. David utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Throughout life he had many friends. David loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made David very easy to approach. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse, Rose Patcho Quitog, whom he married on March 22, 1980 in Waihiwa, Hawaii. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason David related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. David had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. David's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, David had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, David was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. David liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, David was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. David's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see David as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a certified mechanic, and was employed for 15 years.

David was an Army veteran. He was in the stationed in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic. David saw action for two tours during the Vietnam War. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received several awards including a Medal of Honor.

David enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, David liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuit was doing crossword puzzles. David was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

David felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, David loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. David relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, David never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, David played football. David was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was football.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, David recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of the Sacred Hearts Catholic Church for 65 years.

Living life in the fast lane suited David just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Hawaii and California.

David was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. A few of David's favorite dogs included: Mandy, Lady, Kawika, and Lani. All were best friends for 14 years.

David passed away on December 28, 2010 at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada after suffering a heart attack. He is survived by his loving wife, Rose Otholt; son, David; three sisters, Alice, Edna, and Lucy; and one brother, Ronald. Services were held at Palm Mortuary, Eastern Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. David was laid to rest in Hawaii.

David brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. David Carl Otholt lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Eastern Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.