On the morning of January 12, 2023, David Monroe Bellows, Sr. left this earth and entered the gates of heaven. David was in excellent health and remained active in life until his final breath. He was born in Whitewright, TX on November 13, 1931, the third child of Foy E. Bellows and Irene (McNeese) Bellows and recently celebrated his 91st birthday with family and friends.

After graduating in 1949 from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, TX, David joined the United States Air Force (1950-1954) and is a veteran of the Korean War. His military training prepared him well for his lifelong career as an electrical engineer for Braniff International Airways in Dallas. One of his proudest moments for the airline was performing electrical maintenance on Air Force One. In 1960, David was in a serious plane crash in which he rescued a pinned co-worker from the burning plane, even though he himself was injured. He, of course, would never speak about his achievements. For those who knew him, this is simply further testimony of how selfless he was in life.

David was a longtime, active member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Dallas. He will be remembered as a welcoming and generous man who loved God, and had the mannerisms of a gentleman with a servant’s heart for family, friends, and neighbors. David’s memory and attention to detail were unmatched. He often would memorize lines to favorite poems, showed considerable talent playing his guitar and banjo both by ear and by reading sheet music, and he deeply appreciated classic gospel, country music and Elvis. At various times throughout his life, David also enjoyed tending to his garden providing delicious produce for his family, cheering on both the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, whether listening to games on his transistor radio, watching on television or occasionally attending a game, square dancing, hunting and fishing near Glen Rose and he truly treasured family gatherings and his many travels with or to see family and friends. He was a man of many talents and his family enjoyed the creations he built and the care he took to enhance his home and to keep his vehicles impeccable and operational well beyond the average.

David was preceded in death by his wife Betty (Flanders) Bellows and his former wife Lucy (Bostick) Bellows, his parents, three siblings James Ray (wife Louise of Gainesville, TX), Harley Edgar (wife Evelyn of Virginia), and sister Carolyn Caldwell, grandson Luc M. Grandmaison, and best friend Frank Hendrickson.

He leaves behind his brother Paul Edwin and wife Quida of Frisco, TX, who describes him as a "great brother in every way," as well as his children and grandchildren Ronald A. Rainville (wife Ok Ye, and children Christopher, Richard, Brian, Colleen, and Sonny) of South Korea; Sharon A. Bullock (husband Kevin, and children Christa Howe-Lambert and Erica Owen) of Colebrook, New Hampshire, son Carl W. Bellows (wife Denise, and son Aaron Bellows) of Berlin, New Hampshire, daughter Tracy B. Markovich (husband Tim and sons Duston Davis, Quinton Davis, Thomas Markovich and daughter Kaleena Markovich) of League City, TX, and son David M. Bellows Jr. of Sammamish, Washington as well as many nieces, nephews, other family, friends and his sweet companion Dian Pack of Mesquite, TX.

A memorial service will be held at the Cambridge Care Center Clubhouse, 711 Matador Lane, Mesquite, Texas 75149 on Jan 28th at 2pm, with a Springtime graveside committal for David and his wife Betty on May 13th at 1pm at the Colebrook Village Cemetary, Colebrook, NH.