Warner David "Dave" Yount, Sr. passed away on Sunday, May 22nd, 2022, in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was 85 years old. He was born June 17, 1936 in Brookfield, Linn County, Missouri, the son of Carl Franklin Yount and Frances Correll Yount. He joined an older brother at the time and would be followed by 5 other siblings—a family of 7 children for Carl and Frances. Dave was proud of his Missouri (Miz-zur-ah) farm boy heritage and often told us not only the correct way to pronounce Missouri, but many memories of those times.
Dave entered the United States Navy in 1953, and on March 11, 1956, married Patricia Ann "Patty" Ralston, song leader and soloist at the Elmer Christian Church where Carl, Dave's father was preaching minister at the time. Patty would follow Dave, as his new bride, to Hawaii where he was serving in Naval Aircraft Mechanics. Their marriage would span the next 65 years until Patty's death last year. Dave's naval career continued throughout the 1950's, 60's and early 1970's until he retired in 1974 with 21 years of service at the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Having seen duty throughout the world from the end of the Korean War and throughout the Vietnam War era, Dave distinguished himself in those years as an aircraft machinist, electrician, field engineer and pilot of planes and helicopters. He was awarded the Navy's highest honor outside of wartime for risking his life to save a fellow sailor caught up in an aircraft intake turbine while onboard an aircraft carrier.
During Dave and Patty's Navy years living in Hawaii, California, Virginia, Tennessee, Cuba and finally Washington state, they were blessed with a growing family of 4 children all of whom survive him: Warner David "Davy" Yount, Jr., 1957, Robert Daniel "Danny" Yount, 1959, Rebekah Ann "Becky" Yount Burch, 1962, and John Paul "JP" Yount, 1967. They were a wife and family painfully aware of what it meant to sacrifice time with their husband and father as he was away serving his country. In the truest sense, they also served.
While serving his country and raising his children, Dave volunteered as a Little League coach, Cub Scout Cub Master and Boy Scout leader. He also volunteered at Anacortes High School in the welding and shop classes.
Dave's retirement years, after leaving the US Navy, were anything but idle. He continued working locally in the Anacortes and Oak Harbor areas as a professional painter, in retail auto parts, sporting goods, and Civil Service. Civil Service would take him, Patty and John once again overseas for a brief stint in the Philippine Islands in 1983. In the years that followed Dave would continue to serve the Lord at Anacortes Christian Church as an elder and teacher, where he, Patty and their family attended from the early 1960's until his death. Dave would tell anyone he met that his relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the most important part of his life. His conviction for sharing his faith is evidenced by the years he spent in the 1990's developing and operating a prison ministry as an outreach of the church. He was
ordained by the Anacortes Christian Church for this ministry and was known to bring prisoners into his own home for Thanksgiving Dinner with the family. Dave visited local prisons regularly to share the gospel and would even transport a portable baptismal tank in his pickup to immediately immerse any prisoner responding to the gospel message.
As the years passed into the 21st century Dave was actively engaged in many activities & areas of service that were an outlet to his (seemingly) endless talents. He was awarded the Red Cross "Real Hero Award" for his community service in 2008. Dave served as a volunteer and board member for the Anacortes 100 Food Bank. Along with fellow-organizer and friend, Ed Capasso, Dave initiated the "Support Our Troops" program in Anacortes through which 36 members of the military received personal supplies on an ongoing basis. Additionally, Dave also served as a volunteer Chaplain with Island Hospital in Anacortes. He was a Master Gardner, a Master Fisherman, a Master Woodworker, and a Master Machinist and Mechanic restoring 4 antique tractors with his dear friend Rick Kiser and presenting them in parades and tractor/steam engine shows. He also built a steam engine car with his friend, Russ Hibler, and was president of the local Anacortes Steam Engine Club and member of Cascade 2-cylinder Club.
Dave went home to Jesus and was reunited with Patty on May 22nd, 2022. He would have been 86 years old on his next birthday, June 17. He is survived by his four children and their spouses: Dave and Nancy Yount (Anacortes), Dan and Pam Yount (Athens, TX), Becky and Brian Burch (Anacortes), John and Alisyn Yount (Mount Vernon). Dave is also survived by 3 brothers and 2 sisters: Carl Franklin Yount II (Missouri), Carolyn Pierce (Colorado), James Yount (Missouri), Shelby Yount (California), Linda Boling (Arizona). One sister, Myrtle Watson (Missouri) preceded Dave in death, as well as one grandson, Anthony David Yount. Dave's 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces also survive him.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them." Until we see you again Dad, together with Mom, greeting us in Jesus' presence at our final port of call---Heaven.