David Thomas Broaddus, 87, of Soulsbyville, Calif. – formerly of Lucerne, Calif. – graduated to his final reward Dec. 23, 2015, in Modesto, Calif.

David was born in China in September 1928 to missionary parents Emmett and Margaret Cherry Broaddus.

He was the second of seven children, and lived in Hong Kong, China and Manila, Philippines, until the age of 16.

During his teenage years, David, his stepmother Alice and his siblings were civilian POWs in Manila's Santo Tomas internment camp.

After being liberated by Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s troops in 1945, David returned to Lexington, Kentucky, with his family, and continued his education in high school and college.

David moved west to Los Angeles in 1949 to attend Pepperdine Christian College, where he met and married Mary Laurene Caldwell on June 3, 1951.

He graduated from Pepperdine in 1952 and then returned to Pepperdine in 1970 for post-graduate studies. 

David worked for a few years during college with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Chinese interpreter, but upon finding out his first child was on the way, he left the FBI for ministerial educational studies. 

He taught school for 35 years with Fresno city schools and pastored several churches over his 87 years, including Lucerne Baptist Church in Lucerne, Calif.

David and his wife Mary taught English in China for six years, then in 2002 settled into Lake County, Calif., where they helped with Lake County Hospice, California Retired Teachers Association, and David was one of Sutter Lakeside Hospital's chaplains.     

David was predeceased by his wife, Mary Laurene Broaddus, on Aug. 12, 2014.

He is survived by his children, Margaret Retherford, Jeffrey Broaddus, John Broaddus and Jeremy Broaddus; grandchildren, Elspeth Blayney, Brandon Mosby, Bradley Mosby, Samuel Broaddus and Caitlyn Broaddus; and five great-grandchildren. 

A celebration of David’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 23 at Twain Harte Bible Church, 23191 Mark Twain Drive, Twain Harte, Calif., telephone 209-586-3835.

The family requests that, in place of flowers, please make a donation to one of David’s favorite charities: World English Institute, 1525 NW Division St., Gresham, OR 97030-5353; or Hospice Services of Lake County, http://www.lakecountyhospice.org/donate/ .