Columbia – David Ray Hubbard, 100, died peacefully the evening of December 15, 2023, just in time to kiss his beloved wife Anne under Heavenly Christmas mistletoe. Born January 24, 1923, in McColl, South Carolina, David was the ninth of Carrie and Wade Hampton Hubbard's ten children. Faith, family, and friends were the foundation of David's life. Singing, storytelling, and his lifetime woodworking hobby, which he called "making sawdust," fed his creative spirit.

When asked if there was something imperative to include in his obituary, David said "there are so many people to thank and stories I'd like you to tell, but whatever you do, don't forget to talk about what Dr. Ralph Owings did for me. Without his kindness, my life would have turned out very differently."

The short version of the Dr. Owings story goes something like this, in David's words. "As a young teen, I discovered Daddy wasn't too smart. You have to remember, he was already ancient by the time I came along. I didn't much care for school, so I dropped out in ninth grade – twice. The truant officer returned me to school the first time. The second time, I left…."

"One day, I bumped into [McColl School] Superintendent Dr. Ralph S. Owings, Sr., at the Post Office. Dr. Owings said 'David, come back to school and finish your education.' I told him I couldn't do that because the kids would be too young for me. 'David,' he said, 'if you come back to school, I'll count the two halves of ninth grade as a whole year and put you in the tenth grade.'

"I took him up on his offer. I became active in the Methodist Church, started a small Boy Scout Troop, discovered Daddy had gotten smarter as I got older, and made friends with members of the Class of 1942. I learned a lot in those two years and was honored when they elected me Senior Class President. Dr. Owings changed the trajectory of my life."

After graduating from McColl High School in 1942, David (D.R.) enlisted in the Army and was assigned to Company D, 205th Quartermaster's Supply Battalion. Five weeks later, still learning who and when to salute, D.R. was Britain-bound. In 1944, he joined Signal Section, Advance Section Communications Zone, the unit tasked with implementing the signal portions of Operation Overlord. D.R. returned home in October 1945, five months after V.E. Day.

David was a proud World War II veteran, and a member and past president of the South Carolina Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association. He wrote dozens of letters home, one of which was selected for inclusion in Tom Brokaw's book "An Album of Memories: Personal Histories from the Greatest Generation." More than 75 years later, D.R.'s voice would catch as he read the letter aloud, his mind no doubt returning to the sights, smells, and horrors he witnessed upon entering Buchenwald in the early days after it was liberated. For years, David served as a witness to the Holocaust, determined to do his part to ensure the world never forgets the six million Jewish lives lost under the most brutal circumstances imaginable.

After 35 months, D.R. received his Honorable discharge from the Army and returned home to McColl, where he convinced his high school girlfriend, Anne Galloway, to give him another chance. The story of their reunion is precious – a reflection of post-war America, good timing, and divine intervention. D.R. enrolled at the University of South Carolina under the GI Bill, where he was a member of The Carolina Men's Chorus. Anne and David married in August of 1947 and settled in Columbia. D.R. joined W.O. Blackstone & Company, where he acquired the nickname Hub, as a part-time warehouse man. He retired in 1985 as a Senior Vice President, infinitely richer for having worked nearly forty years with a great team of colleagues, friends, and clients. Hub was a long-time member and past president of the Executive's Association of Greater Columbia (EAGC), "The Ole Codgers" (retirees from the mechanical and electrical contracting industry), and The POETS Club, a Friday morning breakfast meeting he and Sam Williams cooked up that had absolutely nothing to do with literary pursuits.

David and Anne joined Shandon United Methodist Church in 1947, and more than a decade after marrying, chose to begin the lengthy adoption process to create their family. In D.R.'s words, "We adopted two precious children on opposite ends of the spectrum – our daughter Karen and our son Charles David (Dave). God and The Children's Bureau of South Carolina entrusted these tiny souls to our care, and we are infinitely grateful." Their family was complete.

Blessed with a beautiful tenor voice, D.R. sang in Shandon's Chancel Choir under the direction of Guthrie Darr and, with Lib Crosswell on piano, led the Wesley Fellowship Class in singing every Sunday morning. How he loved the old hymns! He joined the Shandon Men's Club, served on numerous committees, made certain the HVAC systems worked, and used his exceptional woodworking talent to create beautiful items for the church campus, including a replica of the Ark of the Covenant. Shandon family, thank you for sustaining my parents, especially during the difficult early years of Dave's life when worry and uncertainty hung heavy in the air. Your love gave them strength.

No story of D.R.'s life would be complete without sawdust. Woodworking was his lifelong hobby. After he retired, Hub spent most days in his shop. He made 3000 plus personalized step stools in all colors and sizes, and more cradles (dozens), cutting boards (hundreds), charcuterie boards, and custom pieces than he could remember. Every time he would announce he was shutting down the shop to write his stories, another idea would burst forth, putting the writing on the back burner.

David's final project became known as his Cross Crusade. During the pandemic, Dad started making simple wooden crosses to lift people's spirits, and in doing so, he rediscovered his purpose. This story is the hardest to write because the Cross Crusade could not have happened without the love and commitment of dozens of people around the world. In the final three years of his life, David made more than 1000 crosses. To all who helped, thank you! You gave Dad the greatest gift anyone can give a centenarian other than love – the gift of relevance.

About 500 words ago, Dad would have been signaling that it was time to wrap this up. Fair enough, but the entire section expressing the family's gratitude for all the people who cared for and sustained him is pages long. Pages! And David's story, the one he was determined to capture, remains unwritten. Dad promised to write the stories down, but when asked how the writing was going, he'd reply: "I'll do that when I'm older and can't make sawdust anymore." Older?

Not surprisingly, the time for writing never arrived. Dad was tinkering in his workshop, happily making sawdust, until a few hours before EMS took him to Lexington Medical Center. He died nine days later – forty days shy of his 101st birthday.

Inside the Crossmaker's Workshop, the machines are quiet. The sawdust has settled. And it is fitting that the stories of David's life are held within those walls, written not in ink, but in cubic yards of sawdust. All is well.

Left to tell his story are David's daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Rick Morris, son Dave, and grandson Kevin Gibson, all of Dallas, Texas; nieces, nephews, their spouses and families; and friends. So many friends. After nearly 66 years of marriage, David's wife Anne preceded him in death, as did his parents, in-laws, and siblings.

To the village of friends, neighbors, and family locally and around the world who brought food, offered prayers, provided rides, support, and assistance, sent emails, visited, listened to stories, lent an ear, stilled the waters, worked in the shop, ran errands, and cared for D.R., thank you! Your love, friendship, and attentiveness nurtured and sustained him, helped him remain in his home, and gave him purpose. Every time we begin to make a list, we realize it is endless. Dad was blessed beyond measure. We pray you know who you are – because we certainly do. What you did to love and care for Dad is a gift we will carry in our hearts forever! Thank you.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate the life of David R. Hubbard at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina, and afterwards for a reception in Player Hall on the Shandon Campus.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those desiring to remember D.R. to consider a memorial donation to the Trust established by the Hubbard family for his son Dave's future care or to the Memorial Garden Fund at Shandon United Methodist Church. The Trust details are as follows: The Charles David Hubbard Supplemental Needs Trust, PMB 543, 1314 West McDermott Drive, Suite 106, Allen, TX 75013. Should you have questions about the Trust, please ask Karen.

David's life was filled with stories. We hope you will take a moment to share your stories here of David with us so we may capture them before they slip away.