David Richard

Spalding

David Richard Spalding, 84, passed away on Friday, May 20, 2022.  The son of George "Buck" Melvin and Ruby Pauline (Conner) Spalding, David was born on March 22, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

David moved with his family in 1941 to South San Francisco after his father, a high-pressure tank and oil piping welder, received an offer to work in the San Francisco shipyards. After World War II was over, the family moved to Sunnyvale, California, where his father worked for Wooldridge Manufacturing Co.

David graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale. He was a successful doubles tennis player and backup linebacker on the football team. He often enjoyed recalling breaking the nose of Peter Ueberroth, who was a star on the football team and later went on to Olympics Committee and Major League Baseball fame.

David joined the Army and served time in Korea after the Korean War was over, and became a member of the National Guard when returning stateside. He later worked as a police officer for the Sunnyvale Police Department and was a long-time employee of IBM Corporation/Siemens/Rolm Corporation, working in the Purchasing, Security and Facilities Departments.

David's greatest love was horses, and he was winning trophies at horse shows at a young age. He was involved in the Appaloosa horse community for many years. His most successful horse was Midnight Kowboy, who was a multiple World and National Champion. David owned a horse ranch in Gilroy, California, and even tried his hand at breeding horses for a few years.

David retired to Arkansas and ultimately found his way back to Oklahoma a few years later. He operated a large cattle ranch in Milburn before settling in Blanchard. He was a member of the TriCity Cowboy Church.

David was preceded in death by his parents, and brother James Paul Spalding.

David is survived by his son, James Daniel "Dan" Spalding, daughter-in-law Riane Marie Spalding, grandchildren Logan James Spalding and Corrina Meredith Spalding, and nephew Richard Wade Spalding.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on July 9, 2022, at the Eisenhour Funeral Home Chapel, Blanchard, Oklahoma.   Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard. Online obituary and guestbook are available at eisenhourfh.com.