Waynesville-David Gordon Curphey, 90, passed away on February 19, 2020 at Autumn Care of Waynesville. Born in Bartlesville, OK on August 9, 1929 to father George and mother Lillian Curphey. Other than his parents David is proceeded in death by brothers Richard and Daniel Curphey.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 13 years Angie Comans Curphy, and special nephew David Christopher Curphey; great nephew’s Cameron and Cole Curphey.
When David Cuphey arrived in Bethel in 1988, he immediately set about making his new community a more interesting, friendly, creative, and accountable space. While also active in Bethel Methodist Church, his role as community organizer and leader earned him the special love and adoration of fellow citizens.
Dave played a significant role in shaping his community into a more compassionate and caring neighborhood with his work with Lions Club International. Dave, in fact had belonged to Lions Clubs in every community in which he had previously resided. He served as President of the Pigeon Valley Lions Club in Bethel and chaired the Haywood County Blind Fund. Always thinking about the children, Dave joined in the vision screening project at Bethel Elementary School, ensuring that every child who needed visual assistance would be entitled to receive it. Dave guaranteed that the blind and visually impaired were well cared for, not only for their vision needs, but also for their general wellbeing.
Dave’s outreach to his community extended to his activities with Bethel Community Organization, of which he was a founding member. Dave became actively involved with producing “Bethel Community Day” as a means of celebrating community, activity, fun, and citizenship. While a member of Bethel Community Organization, Dave helped to coordinate the paving and lighting of the Bethel track, a feature that, for decades, has enabled Bethel families to stay in shape. He also helped to establish the Bethel Half Marathon which has survived twenty-six seasons to become North Carolina’s most enduring race – the oldest half marathon in the state. This race is the chief fundraiser for Bethel Rural Community Organization (BRCO), an organization whose evolution from the original Bethel Community Organization he facilitated by becoming a founding member of the new group.
As an engineer, Dave wanted local students to succeed and be competitive in the arena of science and math. He initiated an award to recognize achievement in these fields at Bethel Elementary School. That annual STEM award has been taken over by BRCO and is named for Dave. In addition, Dave’s encouragement of active involvement in the community makes BRCO’s yearly citizenship award presented to a graduating eighth grade Bethel Middle School student appropriately named the “David Cuphey Citizenship Award.”
Dave has been Director and President of BRCO and a member of most of the organization’s committees. As Benevolence Committee Chair, he garnered funds through a grant to pay for utilities for families in need. This committee, through its annual Christmas fund for indigent students, ensured that no Bethel student would be without gifts. Food insecure individuals also received Dave’s help as he worked with the Food Pantry/MANNA program. As a member of the Education Committee, Dave encouraged BRCO’s scholarship program and presented the first scholarship. An avid member of the Race Committee, he worked throughout the year to assist with organizing the race as well as laying out the course and providing water stations. Bethel Community Organization added “Rural” to its title as it transitioned to focus on rural and farmland conservation, an effort encouraged by Dave as a member of the Rural Preservation Committee. Dave worked diligently to secure sponsors for the organization to ensure its sustainability. In addition, Dave served as the unofficial parliamentarian to be certain that all BRCO meetings were conducted appropriately according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
David Cuphey leaves a legacy of stewardship and leadership for Bethel Rural Community Organization as well as for the greater community and county that displays a master plan for civic involvement and determined dedication. Dave was a realist who was comfortable with change, an asset required of an authentic leader. For his years of commitment and perseverance to Bethel Community and Haywood County, Dave was nominated by BRCO and granted by the Governor’s Office a Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in 2015.
A celebration of life Friday February 28, 2020 at Landmark Apostolic Church at 3pm. officiating the service will be Pastor Terry Reep. Visitation will be held at Landmark Apostolic Church one hour prior to service time at 2pm.
The family would like to give a special thanks to family and friends of the community that have shown great efforts of love during David's time.
Memorial contributions can be made out to the Lions Club and Bethel Rural Community Organization.
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