David Stefan Moler

David Stefan Moler passed away at the age of 80 on Sunday, May 16, after a year and a half of failing health. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and sons Paul, who resides in Oklahoma, and Geoffrey, who resides in Michigan as well as in Phoenix.

Dave had fond reminiscences of his boyhood in rural Indiana where he swung from barn rafters--breaking an arm, helped his grandfather milk cows--getting kicked across the barn once when his hands were too cold to suit the cow, climbed over fallen trees as a 6-year-old on his way home from school after a tornado hit the town, delivered newspapers so that he could purchase a train set, and gave his mom, Ruth, shots for gall bladder pain when his dad was working out-of-town.

When his father, Harold Moler, accepted a job at Tucson Gas and Electric power company in 1953, the family, including sisters Marcia and Ann, moved to Tucson--where Dave promptly jumped off a ledge on "A" mountain and broke his arm....again. During his four years at Tucson High School, Dave was part of the group which started up the first swim team there, swimming out of the YMCA where he managed to capture the State Breaststroke championship for a time. He also served a year as the State EYC (Episcopal Young Churchmen) President, which gave him the opportunity to travel around the whole State of Arizona leading projects aimed at providing aid to poor communities.

Dave attended the U of A, but moved to California where he ended up working for United Airlines for almost 38 years, most of them in customer service. He and Judy married at Catalina Methodist church in the summer of 1962, and they had their first son, Paul, on the Fourth of July in 1963. After Geoff came along in 1966, they purchased a home in Milpitas, CA from which Dave commuted 37 miles to work each day. The family enjoyed many trips to the beaches and forests of California in their camper truck, as well as visits to England, Ireland, and Hawaii thanks to the employee passes Dave got from United. He and Judy took several other trips to beautiful parts of the world after their sons flew the nest, returning often to Oxford, England where they have good friends.

In 1984, with both sons away from home in college, Dave and Judy returned to Arizona where Dave continued to work for United Airlines at Sky Harbor in Phoenix until his retirement. They soon decided to purchase a small place in Lakeside for continuing mountain experiences. The last visit they made to that home was in the middle of March of this year, and the pleasant weather broke into snowfall one beautiful morning for one last goodbye to Dave, who loved it there.

A memorial service will be held at Shadow Mountain Mortuary at 2350 E. Greenway Road in Phoenix on -June 21st, 2021 at 11 o'clock. If you wish to honor Dave's memory with a contribution, please do so to the charity of your choice. God knows there is a lot of need in this world, and Dave would be pleased to know he was a part of such a tribute.