Marion David Newberry

The family cordially invites guests who are unable to attend Mr. Newberry's funeral in person to be in attendance via the Floral Hill's Facebook page at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/FloralHillsFuneral/

Marion David Newberry: Korean War Veteran, Epidemiologist, World-Traveler, Amateur Poet, Native American, Storyteller, Humorist, Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Uncle, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Great-Great-Grandfather, Friend, Christian.

David was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas on February 9th, 1934, to Vonny and Leona (Frangenberg) Newberry. After eighty-six amazing years, on August 4th, 2020, the world lost this preciously rare person who touched the lives of everyone he encountered. We were wonderfully blessed to have known and loved David during his time here on earth. And though our loss is profound, our hearts heavy, and our tears flow freely, we take comfort in knowing that Heaven is rejoicing as David is welcomed home with open arms by his Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who knew David, those fortunate enough to call him coworker, friend, or family, all tell countless stories about him, his life, and his legacy. He was a man of many talents, full of life, vibrant, tirelessly energetic, deeply compassionate, constantly humorous, and ever the humble servant.

David was born into a large family, one of six children. He and his family eventually relocated to Wichita, Kansas. In his later years, David would often regale those around him with stories of his adolescent escapades. With a twinkle in his eye, he would recount his love of fast cars, and daring escapes from the local sheriff. David met Ardyce Glee (Timmons) Newberry (wife of sixty-two years) on a blind date in 1953, and just twelve days later, they eloped.

David quickly matured and served his country by joining the Army. He would proudly lay claim to being the only soldier he knew of that ever fell asleep while marching. Grinning from ear to ear, David would eagerly share this true story from basic training, in which he marched sound asleep right into the ditch along the side of the road, after having spent the entire night following his Sergeant’s orders to dig with a shovel as punishment for failing to write home to his mother often enough. “Private Newberry! Never in all my born days have I seen a soldier fall asleep marching!” David would often recount the incredulous words his Sergeant shouted as he stood towering over his impromptu napping spot.

Those now humorous moments were short-lived as David faced the violence and human toll of combat in the Korean War. Ever the leader and quick study, he was swiftly promoted to Sergeant First Class. He bravely fought the enemy as a machine gunner, squad leader, and as assistant platoon Sergeant. David was wounded in combat and received the Purple Heart. He also was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery when he volunteered to run for help at his own peril, when his unit was pinned down under heavy machine gun fire.

But David’s Military service to his country, and to the world was only just the opening act of his decades-long life of servanthood. After returning home, he began what would be a life-long and global career in Epidemiology. He started in humble beginnings as a research assistant while also earning his Undergraduate degree from Friend University in Wichita, Kansas.

In 1964, David began his nearly twenty-five-year career with the CDC. During his time at the CDC, he worked in dozens of countries, on several key initiatives including Smallpox and Polio Eradication Programs. After retiring from the CDC, David continued his work as a consultant to PVOs, WHO, UNICEF, and NGOs. He also served as a consultant and taught applied epidemiology at John Hopkins University, and he received a Research Scientist faculty reappointment as a Ph.D. equivalent, from the John Hopkins School of Public Health.

In 1994, David began a thirteen-year career at CARE USA as Project Director of the Polio Eradication Project. Not one to ever settle, he also pursued his entrepreneurial spirt as CEO of Global Consultants Inc., where he built and lectured on training programs in Applied Epidemiology for several prominent Universities.

David’s first wife, Ardyce, passed away on December 29th, 2015. But the Lord blessed him once again. In 2016, David married Dr. Gretchen Berggren, a like-minded public health servant. Age was no deterrent, and they spent the last few years in a whirlwind of traveling and adventure, continuing to serve the global community and visiting with family and friends. During their adventures, David was finally able to achieve one of his lifelong goals. In traveling to Alaska, he had finally visited all fifty U.S. states.

David was driven with an unflinching sense of purpose, some might even say destiny. He was always on a mission, hunting for the next accomplishment. Despite running through life at a pace that would wear out even the fittest of us, he still found time for two of his favorite pastimes. David had a lifelong passion for both hunting and running. His annual waterfowl hunting trips to South Dakota became legendary. He’d return with stories of frigid weather, conditions that could only be endured by the hardiest of hunters. Despite snowstorms, subzero temperatures, and other challenges that would have surely turned back any lesser man, David always returned triumphant, a successful man of the wood.

Not one known for ever slowing down, he discovered a love for running at age forty. David would take to the open road with nothing but his jogging attire and a pair of brightly colored sneakers. He never needed fancy gadgets pumping out energetic tunes to set his pace. He simply drew strength from within and left many a would-be jogger in the dust. David finished an incredible thirteen marathons and countless road races over the decades. His family fondly recalls a story about one of those marathons he ran in Alabama, along with his eldest son, Pat. Being a competitive marine, Pat was keeping pace with the race leaders. As they reached the top of a winding, hilly road, Pat glanced back from his vantage point and spied the trail of “middle-of-the-pack” runners far below. He squinted and barely made out his dad in the distance. Right at that very moment, David simultaneously spotted Pat at the top of the hill. In an instant of shared recognition and acknowledgement, they both gave each other a little wave. After the race, they recalled the thoughts that had gone through their minds as they waved at each other. Pat said his thought was, "I sure am glad I'm not still way down there and have so much further to get to the finish,” and David had thought, "I sure wish I was way up there and so much closer to the finish."

Despite his relentless pace, David always made time for his greatest love, his family. As the Patriarch of the Newberry Clan, he tirelessly brought our family together for holidays, birthdays, or simply just because. Always the chef of many cultures and flavors, David would fill the house with the aromas of both traditional and exotic dishes. Whether he was stuffing a turkey at Thanksgiving, mixing his secret “Kickapoo” juice recipe, or whipping up some African-Style Curry, he was always at home in the kitchen. However, the true enjoyment David found was not in the food, but rather in the company of his large family and his friends. Whether he was surrounded by his loved ones, or in a crowd on the other side of the globe, David’s energy would blossom, and his eyes would light up as he entertained the packed rooms or administered treatment to hundreds of patients.

And that is the single most defining quality about David Newberry. That is the true legacy he leaves behind, the gift that touched so many countless lives, and blessed everyone lucky enough to have met him. David’s love for people was both unrivaled and relentless. To see that, one had only to glimpse the profound love he had for his children, Pat, Liz, Teresa, Michael, Philip, and Kathleen. He took great pride in them and treasured their distinctive personalities, and the loss of Kathleen and Philip was devastating for him, no matter how many years passed. But whether you were family, a friend, coworkers, a neighbor, a stranger in a distant land, a homeless veteran, the cashier at a grocery store – David showed genuine love and a selfless compassion for everyone he met. While he was far too humble to have ever said it himself, each day David reflected his Savior’s love for humanity.

While words alone seem dreadfully inadequate to define all that David Newberry was or is, perhaps his memory and life is at least glimpsed in the lyrics of “Thank You” (Ray Boltz):

One by one they came

Far as the eyes could see

Each life somehow touched

By your generosity

Little things that you had done

Sacrifices made

Unnoticed on the earth

In heaven now proclaimed

And I know that up in heaven

You're not supposed to cry

But I am almost sure

There were tears in your eyes

As Jesus took your hand

And you stood before the Lord

He said, my child look around you

For great is your reward

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am a life that was changed

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am so glad you gave

David, you changed countless lives for the better, lived life as if every moment counted, left an incredible legacy through your work, and established a unique, wonderful, loving, family.

Our eyes are not dry, and though broken, our hearts are still brimming with the joyful and cherished memories we each carry from having walked a mile or two with you on this side of heaven. May you rest peacefully in the loving arms of our Glorious Savior. Until we meet again.

David was preceded in death by wife Ardyce, parents Vonny and Leona, siblings Vincent, Gene, Howard, Larry, and Janice, daughter Kathleen, and son Philip (Cheng Suan).

He is survived by his wife, Gretchen, and his children Patrick (Roxanne), Elizabeth “Liz” (Terry), Teresa (Dean), Michael (Sonjia), and Le. He will also be remembered by his grandchildren, Patrick Jr., Consuela, Matthew, Mark, Julie, Tanya, Jamie, Bonnie, Susan, Nathan, Ryan, Kimberly, Jonathan, Kelly, Kathleen, Kristen, David, Michael, Amy, Trung, Tram, Tin, Nikita, Trinh, Phuong, Holly, Huong, Uyen, Virgil, Shaheen, Tremaine, and Aillissia. He was also blessed with forty-four great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his Aunt Jeraldine.