James Skelton David

James David, 88, known as Jim to family and friends, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 24, 2017 in Santa Clarita, CA.

Born in Bakersfield, CA, Jim was the son of Richard and Lydia David. Jim attended school in Bakersfield, graduating from Kern County Union High School. He was a good athlete, competing in football, basketball and track. In 1947 he married Verna Hauck and they moved to Fresno, CA in 1950. Jim attended Fresno State College, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in 1953. It was while attending college that Jim learned the upholstery trade, which he continued to practice for decades. The family moved to Petaluma in the summer of 1953 where Jim began his career at Petaluma High School. While teaching, he continued to take classes and earned his Master’s Degree in Industrial Arts in 1959. Working with close friends and family, Jim built the family’s dream home in Penngrove and they moved there in 1961. Jim taught Industrial Arts, including metal shop, welding, wood shop, leather tooling, copper tooling, and lapidary. He also served for many years as coach of the basketball and track teams. For the last 20 years of his career he served as a counselor at Petaluma High, retiring in 1988. Working out of the shop in his garage on weekends and summer vacations, Jim upholstered countless sofas, chairs, custom cars, motorcycle seats, boats, tractor seats, and even an airplane seat. He also spent many hours in his garden, growing an impressive number of summer and winter fruits and vegetables. Jim enjoyed many outdoor activities with his long-time friend Bud Nelson, such as pheasant hunting and deer hunting or going for abalone along the northern California coast, but he became hooked on fly fishing in 1963 when a fellow teacher introduced it to him on the North Fork of the Yuba River. Fly fishing throughout California continued to be his passion well into his 80s. Jim also enjoyed traveling with family and friends. He fished for salmon in Canada and Alaska and took cruises to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, to Alaska, Mexico, Asia and his favorite destination, Hawaii.

Jim is survived by his children, Steve David (wife Cathy) of Atascadero, CA, Larry David (wife Kitty) of Newhall, CA, Dawn David of Las Vegas, NV; brother Don David (wife Jenette) of Abilene, TX, brother Bill Browne of Penticton, British Columbia; grandchildren Jeremy David, Brett David, and David Sheppard.

A celebration of life will be held April 24, 2017 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM at the Rooster Run Event Center located at the Golf Course, 2301 East Washington Street, Petaluma, California.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to PHS SkillsUSA, Petaluma High School, 201 Fair Street, Petaluma, CA 94952, Attention: Chris Jones.