David Lewis Tibbals peacefully entered his heavenly home Feb. 17, 2014 surrounded by his loved ones, after a long and courageous three-year battle with lung cancer. He was 60 years old.
David was born in Spokane, Wash., on March 5, 1953, to Lewis and Marjorie Tibbals. He attended St. John Vianney and graduated from University High School in 1971. David served in the U.S. Navy from 1971-1975 and attended Spokane Community College, graduating with a degree in electronics in 1977. After working at FFTF-Hanford and Southern California Edison he came to Washington State University in 1989 and has been a resident of Moscow, Idaho, since then. He was employed with the USDA-Animal Research Unit at the time of his passing.
David was loved by all who knew him and touched many lives through his numerous activities and hobbies. He was an avid fan of astronomy and an active member of the Palouse Astronomical Society. He loved riding his bike throughout the Palouse as a member of the Twin River Cyclists and was very proud to have completed the Seattle to Portland bicycle race in 2008 and 2010 as a one-day rider. Just a few hobbies that David enjoyed include mastering the yo-yo, camping in his new camper with the family, playing the guitar, knitting, tinkering with his telescope, working in the raspberry garden, walking his beloved dog, Winston, and most of all being "Grandad" to Eric and Sophia.
David is preceded in death by his father, Lewis S. Tibbals. He is survived by his wife of 36 and one-half years, LeeAnn; son, Charles (Crystal); daughter, Carla; grandchildren Eric and Sophia; mother, Marjorie Tibbals; and siblings Louise Moynihan (Dan), Martha Ray (Rock), Timothy Tibbals (Alice), Michael Tibbals (Carolyn), Nannette Stephens (Troy), Patricia Loehlein (Carl) and Paula Hawkins (Matt); and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and, of course, his beloved Great Dane, Winston.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at Concordia Lutheran Church, 1015 NE Orchard, Pullman, Wash. Refreshments will follow. Memorial donations can be made in David's honor to Concordia Lutheran Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.
