David Charles Yates Obituary (1944

David Charles Yates September 12, 1944 - August 12, 2022 David Yates died at home of a massive heart attack. David was the first-born child to Helen Resser Yates and Cecil Rhodes Yates, in Washington, D.C. He was educated in the public schools there and in Bethesda, Maryland. At Walter Johnson High School he was a good student and a star basketball player. There, in 9th grade, he met Elaine Hight, whom he later married. After having learned he lost his Basketball scholarship at Duke and without having made an application, David drove to Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and informed them he should be given a basketball scholarship. He was persuasive and his request was granted. A starting guard on his Freshman team that racked up a season record 18-2, unbroken to this day. During his Senior Year Dave set a single game record of field goals and points, scoring 43 points in that game, another record only recently topped. Basketball teammates remember David as a natural leader and playmaker. His dynamic leadership extended into the social side of college life. David's energy dramatically doubled the number of incoming pledges to his Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Pennsylvania Beta Chapter. David was elected President of his fraternity. He earned his degree from Gettysburg in 1966, at the height of the war in Vietnam. That summer David married his high school sweetheart, Elaine Hight. David applied for, and was granted admission to the Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA, and upon completion, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. His ambition was to fly jets in the Marine Corps. As flight training was backed up at that time, he was assigned to play basketball for the Marines, traveling to Navy and Marine Corps bases around the nation. Eventually a slot opened in flight training, and David and Elaine relocated to Pensacola, Florida. It was there that David earned his pilot's wings. They were then transferred to Kingsville, Texas, for further flight training, in aircraft carrier landings and take-offs. Training completed, David was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, he and Elaine moved to Laguna Beach, California. He deployed to Vietnam in October 1969, assigned to land-based combat operations. There he flew combat missions in a Marine Corps' Douglas A4 Skyhawk, a single-seat, light attack jet aircraft, in close air support of ground troops. David also served on the ground accompanying front line Marines as a Forward Air Controller. David's heroic wartime service was recognized: Vietnam Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Air Medal for single acts of heroism and achievement in flight; Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; Navy Commendation Medal, and National Defense Medal. Upon his return to the United States, David was again assigned to El Toro, while Elaine took up residence in nearby San Clemente, enjoying its Pacific beaches. David's love of flying kept him active in the Marine Corps Reserves, eventually retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. David and Elaine were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Cameron, just prior to his tour in Vietnam. Completing his tour, David reentered civilian life in 1972, enrolling in Harvard Business School, where he earned an MBA degree and on the day of graduation, the birth of his son, Chad. Thereafter he joined the executive ranks of National Steel Corp., and the family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. He was eventually transferred to Grosse Pointe, Michigan. After National Steel David, whose MBA was in Finance, became chief financial officer (CFO) of various public and private companies. The Yates family resided in Grosse Pointe Farms, and again his leadership was sought. In Christ Church there David was appointed Treasurer, Junior Warden and Senior Warden on its elected Vestry. The family remained in Grosse Pointe Farms until David's retirement from business. As David's basketball interests waned with age, he enthusiastically played competitive tennis, both singles and doubles, winning in the "Over 70" tournaments. David and his doubles partner became state champions in South Carolina. David also loved hunting, fishing, skiing, climbing his first "14er" behind Chad and owning a home in Aspen, CO. Serendipity brought them to Beaufort in 2013, where they not only acquired a new home, but also found a church home at the Parish Church of St. Helena's. Attending their first Sunday service, the preacher that Sunday was its Bishop in Residence, Alden Hathaway, who turned out to have been raised two streets away from theirs in Grosse Pointe Farms. David has been active in the church, attending its activities and Bible studies, serving as an usher, and member of the Boards of the Cemetery Committee, and the Anglican Leadership Institute. David Yates is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elaine; their two children - David Charles (Chad) Yates, Jr. of Aspen, CO, a daughter Cameron Elizabeth Yates of Newburyport, MA, and a younger brother, Peter Michael Yates, who resides in West Virginia. The Funeral will be held at The Parish Church of St. Helena's, 505 Church Street, Beaufort, South Carolina on Monday, September 26, 2022 at 2:30 pm. A Memorial Service is to be conducted at the Parish Church of St. Helena's in Beaufort on Monday. September 26. At 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, a gift to Holy Trinity Classical Christian School, 302 Burroughs Avenue Beaufort, SC 29902 Beaufort South Carolina is welcome. https://www.htccs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2787097&type=d&pREC_ID=2308240 When gifts are made online the donor simply clicks the "dedicated" box to indicate that the gift is made in honor/memory of another. Donors can also send a check to HTCCS 302 Burroughs Avenue Beaufort, SC 29902 with a note that the gift is in memory of Mr. Yates.