David Stephen Pauling, 85, died May 31st, 2024. He was a lover of the Lord, his family, and his country. Born May 3rd, 1939, in Cherokee, Iowa, he was baptized in the Lutheran church in Sutherland, Iowa, where his father, Reverend C.H. Pauling, and mother, Ruth Johnson Pauling, pastored and led the congregation. He learned his trade as a data communications engineer in the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1962. Stationed in Hawaii, he met and fell in love with a Lutheran school teacher from Connecticut, Linda Anne Marks. Married November 22, 1962, they forever celebrated Thanksgiving Day as their anniversary. Together, they made a home for their children, Stephen and Lisa, moving from Hawaii to Lompoc, California, to Stratford Connecticut, and finally back to Lompoc. Post-service, David applied his data communications training and project management skills to serve his country and support his family as a civilian contractor. Among many adventures in that role, he managed the missile tracking ship the USNS Longview in the Pacific Ocean for several years

An avid consumer and performer of vocal music, he was a pillar of the bass sections of Lompoc's Gents-In-a-Chord barbershop chorus and the Bethany Lutheran Church Senior Choir and sang the bass part in numerous quartets. His lifelong curiosity and fierce intelligence made him a voracious reader who loved conversation across a wide set of topics.

David is survived by his wife, Linda Anne Marks Pauling, his two sisters, Kristen Pauling Hirt and Melody Pauling, his children, Stephen Kalani Pauling (Susan) and Lisa Malia Pauling Brown (Russell), his four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He joins his parents, Clarence and Ruth Pauling, and brother Ruclare in God's embrace.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be given to Bethany Lutheran Church (135 South E Street Lompoc, CA 93436) or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 13th at 11:00 at Bethany Lutheran Church, with a reception to follow.