My nearly 90 year old grandfather passed away last week.
My recent move to Manila is clouding the reality of his passing. It doesn’t feel factual, even though it’s now been many days. Rather than sum up his life with a few paragraphs of my own meager thoughts, I’ll simply paste the obituary that was published. He was an amazing man who led an extra-ordinary life full of adventure. He will be dearly missed.
“SATCHELL, David Bidwell, age 89, of Oak Ridge, NC, formerly of Freeland, MI, passed away on July 18, 2009 at the Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point, NC, after complications following recent surgery.
He was born November 19, 1919 in Bridgeport Twp, MI to Harold and Ruth West Satchell. He graduated as Valedictorian from Caro (MI) High School in 1936 and attended Cleary College, Ypsilanti MI. David was married to Shirley Ione Janes on May 5, 1944 in Olathe, KS and they joyously celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. David met his bride while both were in the U.S. Navy; he served as a pilot and taught aerobatics and advanced fighter tactics during WWII, later reaching the rank of Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
The Satchells made their long-time homes in Saginaw MI, Freeland MI, and Estero FL, moving earlier this year to North Carolina. David took great pride in his large, accomplished family and cherished time spent with them.
Always athletic, he was passionate about tennis, playing regularly into his 80s, and encouraged others to learn the game. He loved flying, and taught ground school and instruments to private pilots in the Saginaw area for many years. He passed on his love of skiing to all of his six children, teaching each of them before the age of five. He had a quick wit and a knack for instilling enthusiasm for many of his own life-long interests: hunting, fishing, gardening, bird-watching, travel, reading, music and dancing. During his career, David was a project manager in the construction industry, retiring from Wolgast Construction in 1985.
He was a member of the Freeland United Methodist Church, the Saginaw Ski Club, The Germania of Saginaw, and also served as a Charter member and first president of Riverside Kiwanis.
David was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Frank Satchell and Dr. Donald Satchell; one sister, Rhea Chism Goodman; one son, Dr. David Satchell; and one granddaughter, Kristin Satchell, in infancy.
Besides his wife Shirley, he is survived by his three sons: Terry (Kay Karam) Satchell of Hendersonville NC; Dan (Joyce Rodriguez) Satchell of Sedalia CO; K.C. (Cathy Reid) Satchell of Oak Ridge NC; and two daughters, Melanie (Dr. James) Bennett of Loudon TN; and Lori (Craig) Collins of Brentwood TN & Brussels, Belgium. Other survivors include daughter-in-law Beth Brown Satchell of Manitowoc WI; 14 grandchildren: Jeremy Satchell, Todd Satchell, Amanda Satchell Sheremeta, Erin Satchell Yuen, Matthew Satchell, Lindsay Satchell Cahill, Brandon Hoover, Courtney Hoover, Ryan Hoover, Jacob Brewer, Brittany Brewer, Chelsea Brewer, Adam Satchell and Conner Satchell and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Fred (Virginia) Satchell; four sisters, Ruth Abraham Baker, Esther (Richard) Colling; Martha (Stan) Ganzel; and Janice (David) Weissenborn, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He will be sadly missed.”