David Noah Walton was born on September 15, 1946, in Flint, Michigan. He was the middle son of three boys raised by a single mother. Upon retelling stories later in life of his childhood, he would laugh and say "it was a rough neighborhood." Based on lack of means, David developed a love of reading that would continue throughout his life.
At 17, David enlisted in the Air Force. David was stationed in the Philippines and he told many stories of the wild times while stationed overseas, deep sea diving and the like. After the service ended, he earned an undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University.
He attended Eastern Michigan, he met his wife, Rosemary Napier. They were married outside of Rosemary's parents' farmhouse on August 12, 1972 and became parents to Natalie and Loren.
David began to study law at Ohio State University. After graduating law school, David read an article about cities on the cusp of greatness- one being Seattle. They packed up everything they owned and drove to Seattle, Washington. David initially worked at the Seattle City Attorney's Office as a prosecutor and soon after became a contract attorney at the Boeing Company.
David’s gift for engaging people in conversation eventually led to his promotion to be the Executive Sales Director for Asia Pacific Sales, becoming the first African-American salesman in Boeing history. He traveled the world negotiating contracts and sales of commercial airplanes to places like Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, and Africa. Colleagues and customers at Boeing were like family, and he did not distinguish between his professional and personal relationships. While traveling, he collected rare international art and furniture which are prominently displayed in his Seattle and Big Island homes.
In retirement, David found being a grandfather his favorite stage of life. He put up little resistance to being renamed "Di Di" by his two-year old grandson. Grandchildren were part of the inspiration to build David and Rosemary's Hawaiian paradise.
David loved food, great conversation, storytelling, music, hosting great parties, and playing cards.
Surviving David are his wife Rosemary of Kona; his son, Loren; daughter Natalie (Rich); his grandsons, Lane Payton (10), Luke Ridley (8), and Levi Taylor (5), Seattle, Washington; Brother Duane Walton and a large extended family from the Detroit, MI.
David passed away on November 19th, 2018, following a tragic accident on his favorite beach, Kua Bay.
The family would like to thank the many people who made extraordinary efforts to save David, at the beach and the medical staff at Kona Community Hospital. The family would also like to thank the outpouring of love and support from both friends in family everywhere in the world.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations please be made to Disabled Veterans, Doctors without Borders, or St. Jude Children's Hospital,
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