David E. Lynde, 61, of Athena, Oregon, died November 6, 2012, at his home in Athena. Memorial services will be held Monday, November 12, 2012, in the Athena First Baptist Church at 1:00 p.m. Contributions can be made to the Walla Walla Community Hospice, Athena First Baptist Church or to the Athena-Weston Lions Club through the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater, Oregon. To leave a condolence online visit www.munsellerhodes.com.

David was born July 19, 1951, in Yakima, Washington, to Albert and Josephine Lynde. He graduated from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington, in 1969. Growing up he spent many of his summers with his grandparents in Burns, Oregon. He entered the Navy right after high school and served as a boiler technician on destroyers. He served during the Vietnam War and was very proud of his military service. As a boiler tech he always said, I already did my time in hell, so I know that I will go to heaven, referencing the extremely hot environment that he worked in. During his time in the Navy he was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident that resulted in the partial amputation of his left leg. He spent several months in a full body cast recovering from his injuries. During his rehabilitation he met the love of his life and wife of more than 35 years, Linda. She was a Navy hospital corpsman and worked in the physical therapy department where David learned to walk again.

In May of 1977 he was honorably discharged and that fall he and Linda were married in a small outdoor ceremony in Oakland, California. They soon moved to Iceland, where Linda was stationed in the Navy and there they welcomed their first son McGregor. Linda was discharged in 1979 and they eventually moved back to the states, and settled first in Adams and then ultimately in Athena. In 1980 they welcomed their second son, Erik. When moving back, David had only one demand, that they had to live in Oregon.

David worked many odd jobs, mostly in the farming community around Athena. He then put himself through college, first at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and then ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Eastern Oregon State College in La Grande. He completed an internship with US Bank, worked as a correctional officer for the Umatilla County Jail, and spent a short time working at the Lamb-Weston processing plant before landing a job as an assistant manager at Schools Credit Union in Pendleton.

Starting in the early 1980s and throughout his life, the entire family spent much time traveling to Portland to diagnose and treat his health problems. In 1987 he and Linda travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for further testing and what led to his first liver transplant. During this time the community of Athena rallied behind the entire family and supported them in many ways, including caring for the boys while David and Linda were in Pittsburgh. In 1993 he had his second liver transplant, this time in Portland. For most of his life the doctors and medical staff at the VA hospitals worked diligently to piece him back together and keep him going. Many thanks go to all of them who helped him beat the odds for all those years.

After his first liver transplant in 1987 David was officially retired, but the label never stuck. He was extremely active in many civic organizations and community interests. Throughout the years he served on the Athena Planning Commission and City Council, he was active in the Athena Chamber of Commerce, Athena Caledonian Games, was a founding member and past president of the Athena-Weston Lions Club, and was honored as the Athena Citizen of the Year/Chieftain of the Day in 1995. He served on the Athena Weston Education and Resource Enhancement (AWERE) committee since its inception in 2004. He was appointed to the Umatilla Planning Commission in 2008 and was an active commission member since his appointment. He had also been an integral part of the revitalized Umatilla County Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee and served on the statewide Special Transportation Fund program as well both of which provide transportation services to the elderly and disabled. Through the years, he was also involved with the Athena Fall Festival, Triangle Little League, American Legion, Boy Scouts of America, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, was a trustee for the Athena Baptist Church, a member of the VFW and supported many other community activities. He also spent many years volunteering as an assistant in the wood shop classes at the junior high and high school in Weston and Athena. Along with his involvement with youth sports in the Athena community, he was also a Little League baseball coach while in Iceland.

David is survived by his wife Linda of more than 35 years, son McGregor and his wife Nicole of Independence, Oregon, son Erik and his wife Anna and grandson Seth of Walla Walla, Washington, brother Ronald and his wife Neva of Williamsburg, Virginia, and brother Charles and his wife Carol of Burns, Oregon. David also had two daughters from a previous marriage, Kim and her family of San Diego, California, and Leah and her daughter Crystal of Ocean Shores, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bob.

After being diagnosed with the liver disease sclerosing cholangitis, due to the unselfishness and gratitude of two individuals he survived over 25 years after having two liver transplants. He had persevered through multiple broken bones, too many surgeries and other procedures to count, and the partial amputation of his left leg; but during all of this, he developed a very strong tolerance to his pain and an unsurpassed will to live. But pancreatic cancer finally was too much for his broken body to take. During his last month, he was under the care of Walla Walla Community Hospice and was surrounded by his family and the support of the entire community.