DECEMBER 30, 1922 – MAY 26, 2023
David Charles Landers enjoyed a long and rewarding life. Born in Nebraska on December 30, 1922, he grew up in Wyoming; spending most of his youth on a farm near Sundance, Wyoming.
David was an engineering student at the University of Wyoming when Japanese forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, a day that changed his life. At 19, he left Wyoming and enlisted in the Army Air Corps and trained to become a pilot. He flew B-25 bombers on missions in the Pacific theater. In the summer of 1945, he was stationed at Okinawa, and preparing to fly his 13th mission, when the U.S. dropped a hydrogen bomb on Hiroshima, effectively ending the war.
However, he was given the duty of flying a colonel and some nurses up to Korea. En route they made several low level passes over Hiroshima and Nagasaki and viewed the destruction caused by these bombs. After serving some time as part of the occupation forces, he was finally discharged and came home to his growing family. Until he entered his senior years, he rarely spoke about his service in World War II as his experiences surely influenced his world and political views. After moving to Loveland, he became very involved with the Veterans Breakfast group, rarely missing a gathering.
During his freshman year of college in 1941 while at a college mixer, David met the love of his life, co-ed Nancy Hambrick. While undergoing his pilot training in La Junta, they were married in Pueblo on July 29, 1944. She stayed with him until he got his orders to go overseas. Daughter Janet was born May 3rd, 1945 but David didn’t know until two months after the fact and didn’t get to meet her until she was 9 months old.
After the war, David continued his studies in Laramie, earning a degree in electrical engineering in 1948. He spent about 4 years with GE and the family moved to upstate New York and Indiana. Son Gary was born in Laramie, WY on December 28, 1947 and Doug on June 23rd, 1952 in Indiana. The family finally settled in Colorado and David spent the rest of his career working for Colorado Public Service with stints in Alamosa, Sterling and finally Fort Collins.
David and Nancy were committed to a life of community service. They bought an old barracks and taught a variety of classes in the Mexican-American community in Ft. Collins. They also served the low-income community of Fort Collins by providing low interest loans so individuals could buy houses. Not once did they have to deal with a default. In 1970, they had the opportunity to adopt three children who were 4, 5 and 6 at the time: Steve, Anthony and Lisa. This commitment to service expanded to their mission work with Wycliffe Bible Translators, an organization that translated the bible into native languages around the world. They spent time supporting missionaries in Indonesia, Peru and Mexico where Nancy taught school for the missionary translators’ children and David provided maintenance and construction support. So much for a quiet retirement sitting on the front porch swing!
After returning to the United States, they lived for a short time in New Mexico and then Arizona. They then decided to return to Loveland and make their home there. They moved to an independent living house in Good Samaritan Village in 2005 where they became part of this community. David was known for helping manage the store and distribute the weekly newsletter. Nancy passed away in May 2008 and David moved to his apartment in Blue Heron in September 2017 where he resided until his death on May 26, 2023.
David is survived by his sons, Gary (Teresa) Landers of Mesa, Arizona and Doug (Holly) Landers of Loveland, Colorado and daughters Janet Pate of Broomfield, Colorado and Lisa (Tim) Vos of Gold Bar, Washington. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Nancy and two sons, Anthony and Steve.
David will be laid to eternal rest next to his wife Nancy at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 10:00am. Prior to the Graveside Service, family and friends will have an opportunity to say their final farewells at his Viewing at 9:00am. A Celebration of David's life will be held on the same day at Good Samaritan Village in Loveland, Colorado at 12:00pm, with a light reception immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, donations in David's honor are encouraged to PAMVET, an organization very near to David's heart. Memories of David and words of condolence for his family are welcome at www.resthavencolorado.com.
