David Albert Kuhn was born Jan. 22, 1930, in Springfield, Mass. He was freed from his body to be with the Lord on Oct. 5, 2012. It is well with his soul. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.S. and M.S. and then went on to get his Ph.D. in chemistry from MIT in Boston. In the interim, he served in the National Guard and was called to active duty to maintain the peace in post-World War II Germany and was honorably discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant. He met Elizabeth LeCain in Boston, and they married in 1960. He started his career as a research chemist for Conoco which took them to Ponca City, Okla., Wyckoff, N.J., and Houston, Texas.
Left to remember David are his wife, Liz, their children and spouses, and their grandchildren, Martha and Leigh Moore, Mollie, Josh and Abby; Sara and Eric Kuhn, Hanna, Martha, Sam and Ben; Leslie and Tiger Dawson, Anna and Kimberly; Wendy and Adam Kuhn, Colby, Caleb, Camden and Christopher; and Dana and David Jeng, Robbie, Ryan, Patrick and Kyle. He also leaves his brother, Philip and his wife, Ginny, his sisters and brother-in-law, Priscilla Belcher and Pat and Roy Yoerger and numerous nieces and nephews.
David retired from Vista Chemical Co. in 1989, and he and Liz retired to Pagosa Springs. David was a life-long learner who had a passion for the outdoors, the fine arts and encouraging others. He loved to garden, run, play tennis, fly fish, hike, backpack and climb any available mountain. He greatly enjoyed the symphony, opera and a good book. He delighted in engaging conversations with others. He reached out to others through his coaching, teaching Sunday school, participating in Bible studies and mentoring through prison ministry where David desired to bring out the best in others. His children and grandkids will never forget the Mr. Rackety Coon stories he would make up and tell as they circled around him before bedtime.
A memorial service will be held at the Community United Methodist Church on Nov. 3, 2012, at 3 p.m. in Pagosa Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kairos Prison Ministry at kpmifoundation.org or Kairos Prison Ministry International, 6903 University Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792 or to the Community United Methodist Church, Gifts of the Heart Fund, 434 Lewis St., Pagosa Springs, CO 81147, (970) 264-5508, cumcps@centurytel.net.
