BOMBER MEMORIAL

DAVID GEORGE LEITENBERG ~ Class of 1974
April 20, 1956 - May 31, 2011



David Leitenberg was born on April 20th 1956, passing away on May 31, 2011 after a brief battle with cancer.

He was raised in Richland, where he attended school and graduated from Columbia High School in 1974.

Dave has always enjoyed many outdoor activities including water skiing, snow skiing, parachuting and motorcycle riding. He moved to Denver, CO in 1979, where he worked in warehousing and truck driving. He made many friends there and enjoyed the great snow skiing and traveling opportunities the area offered. After returning to the Northwest in 1989, he moved to Spokane where he continued to enjoy those outdoor activities until a surgical mishap limited his ability to further pursue them. He was also married for several years, helping to raise and care for his stepchildren with his wife Sherrie. During his time in Spokane, Dave began working for Oxarc Corp. and remained employed there for 20 years, both in Spokane and Pasco. His most recent employment was with MSA as an Industrial Hygiene Technician, which he had commented was a great job, working with many friendly and helpful coworkers. Upon returning to Kennewick in 2000, Dave met some wonderful friends through a local Spiritually-based Fellowship program, with which he continued to enjoy his true and lasting passion of motorcycle riding on his Harley Davidsons. Many adventurous rides were taken with these friends, including the Redwoods of California, Sturgis, SD, the Oregon coast, and many of the back roads and highways in Washington State.

Of great importance to David was spending meaningful and loving times with all of his family. He always enjoyed the family reunions, taking trips, and especially the time during holidays and special events. Some of those trips included visiting his brother Jeff in Phoenix, AZ and attending Seahawks games together when they both lived in Spokane. Their last trip together was this past April along the Oregon coast, celebrating David’s birthday while there.

Always the entertainer, he enjoyed hosting pool parties and BBQs, Seahawks games on TV, attending the various Fellowship events and group motorcycle rides. Dave has always been known for his exceptional ability to make all those around him feel better with humor, laughter and a helping hand, even as he continued to decline in health from his recent illness. David’s honesty, dignity and faith have set the new benchmark for all of us to follow.

One of his proudest accomplishments has come through the renewal of his faith, becoming a born-again Christian with encouragement and support from various local churches including the Apostolic Christian Church.

David was preceded in death by both parents, Walter and Jean, and by his older brother Karl ('72).

Surviving him are his sisters Debby ('68) Munroe, Linda ('72) (Darr) Bartlett and brother Jeff, along with nephews Christopher (Melissa) Munroe, Nicholas (Holly) Munroe and his niece Rachel Bartlett.

The family would like to thank and extend our deepest appreciation to all those who have been so helpful and loving through these difficult times. We couldn’t have gotten through these times without his many great friends who have helped in so many ways, including visits and phone calls and just hanging out sometimes. We would also like to thank his close friend Wendy Learn from Spokane and especially the wonderful, dedicated and loving help of the Hospice personnel and Home Healthcare Solutions. They have been a true Godsend to David and the family.

Most importantly, however, we all want to thank you, David, for having lived a life full of Spirit, Integrity and Courage, and for sharing it with all of us.

Ride on, Brother!

Funeral services were held June 4, 2011 at Apostolic Christian Church in Richland with graveside services followed at Sunset Memorial Gardens, and there was a reception that followed back at the church.