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David Pullen Obituary

PULLEN, DAVID
After 50 years on Earth, David returned home to Glory on August 30, 2007. Proclaiming Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, David spent the last year of his life working with widows and orphans who lost their families to AIDS in the Maseno region of western Kenya. He quickly became a key part of the Maseno Mission Project, starting a Sunday meal program for street children in Kisumu, shepherding mission visitors, and working with the mothers' union to feed thousands of orphans in the Maseno area. The many locals and visitors who loved him knew him as "Davis." He returned to his San Diego home of 22 years in April. Exhausted by life's turmoils, and struggling in the black pit of depression, he sadly took his own life on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. His family and friends are devastated but not destroyed. David is survived by his life partner of 26 years Mike McLaughlin; parents Charles and Carol Pullen of Katy, Texas; sisters Ann (Chip) Carmichall and Linda (Nickie) Pullen of Katy, and brother Steve (Alice) Pullen of Crosby, Texas. He also leaves behind his unofficially adopted Kenyan son Erick Eragwa Madundu and Erick's son, Davis Pullen Levai. His dream was to bring Erick and little Davis to the United States. His passing is also mourned by the many friends he dearly loved here in San Diego, Houston, Bellevue, Nebraska, and Maseno, Kenya. If good friends were gold, David was the richest man in San Diego! A Celebration of Christian Hope in memory of David will take place Thursday, September 27th, at 5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 320 Date St. in downtown San Diego. (Directions available at www. fpcsd. org.) All are welcome. Offsite reception to follow at 6:30. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests your consideration in supporting the life-saving work in Maseno by sending memorials to All Souls Episcopal Church designated "Maseno- Pullen Memorial" and mailed to 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego, CA 92106.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Sep. 23, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for David Pullen

Sponsored by David's loving family & friends.

22 Entries

Joan

November 12, 2023

Happy Birthday David...still missing you.

Joan Russell

August 29, 2023

Life goes on...but it sure isn't the same.
Miss you friend. Joan

Victoria Anderson

December 30, 2014

David.....I still miss you terribly.

Diane Williams

November 14, 2007

Dearest David,
I am so grateful and lucky to have had you in my life. You brought joy and comfort into my life....as you did for so many.... when I needed a friend, and you will live in my heart forever. I know that you are at peace and are so happy to touch the face of God, but I do mourn for our loss. I keep Michael in my prayers, and think of you every day.
I love and miss you.
Diane

The boys with their Nino before he left to Kenya.

Allen- Rey & Matthew Cabrera

November 14, 2007

David,
We miss you very much. We miss your smiling face and hugs. We love you David. Happy Birthday

Rey & Gerri Cabrera

November 14, 2007

David,
First of all, Happy Birthday!!! We miss you so much. We miss the smile and the hugss. There are no words that can describe the pain and hurt that we are feeling with you gone. You were always there for us. You were always willing to lend a helping hand and more. My son's always thought the world of you especially Allen. He always told us that you were the only adult that he can relate to.
We love you David. We know you are in a better place.

JOAN RUSSELL

October 17, 2007

JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU DAVID FOR 22 YEARS OF QUALITY FRIENDSHIP. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS TO BE FOUND FOR YOU. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT I WAS THE KIND OF FRIEND TO YOU THAT YOU WERE TO ME. I SO WISH THAT I HAD SEEN THIS COMING...ASKED MORE QUESTIONS... PRAYED FOR YOU MORE...
I LOVE YOU DAVID...AND I WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU...UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK GOD FOR ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH
JESUS CHRIST !!!!!

BRIAN JONES & JIM FJERKENSTAD

October 1, 2007

DEAR DAVID - MAY THIS NEW JOURNEY BRING YOU THE PEACE AND HARMONEY THAT YOUR HEART LONGED FOR...THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT AND HELPING OTHERS THAT TRULY NEEDED YOUR KIND WORDS AND WARM HUGS...AS YOU CAN NOW SEE - LIFE CAN AND DOES GO ON - YOUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED BUT YOUR SPIRIT WILL SOAR IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS FOREVER....

Robert & Teresa Pooley

October 1, 2007

Our heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and dear Mike. Although we didn't know David well he always had such a personable ease. All the memories of your joyful times will keep him alive in your heart forever. Bless his loving spirit.

Steve Aguilar

September 27, 2007

I can't beleive that you're gone, David. As long as I can remember back into my childhood, you've been there and a big part of it. As a matter of fact, one of my earliest memories is of you taking my brother Adam and I to Sea World. I wanted to feed the dolphins, so you bought some fish for an outragous price, and when we walked over to the dolphins, they seemed to just swim right up to you. You grabbed me underneath my arms and lifted me up so I could pat the dolphin, and feed him. It's a great first memory to have, and I will take my experiences that I had with you and try to make some great experiences for other children. That way, you will continue to effect others after you're gone in a positive way. I love you man, and I will always remember your smiling face, and miss you always.

Blaine Gross

September 27, 2007

Michael and famiily,

There is no salve, no medicine, no act, and no earthly thing that will take away the ache that we feel when a significant person leaves. If David had been different, less significant, there would be no mark. There would be nothing to miss, nothing gone. As you celebrate his life and savor memories. Be careful to find safety in Christ, and comfort in friends. My prayer to you is that your friends continue to be faithful, and that Christ's presence remain strong in your heart. One day the pain and the joys of the earth will be gone, and we will be able to see each other as God intended us to be, without the fog of sin clouding our vision. Then we will celebrate the glory of the Eternal God.

Blaine Gross

Anna August

September 27, 2007

David-
Words cannot express the sorrow that I have in my heart for the loss of you. I still cannot believe you are not on this earth anymore. We shared a bond at being the godparents of a mutual dear friend's son. I will always carry that with me. I know that your definitely in a better place looking down on all of us and protecting us. You had a heart of gold and you will always be remembered for your selfless compassion. I really believe that I will see you again someday. You will be missed by so many. Love and Hugs go out to you all the way to heaven. Peace Forever my friend.

Bonnie Wharton (Morgan)

September 27, 2007

Dear Michael, and Family I am so sorry for your loss. My heart aches for everyone that knew and loved him as he will truly be missed. David and I were close in the past, but our paths have taken us to different places. I will never forget the love and laughter that David shared with everyone he knew. David has touched so many lives and anyone that knew him loved him. I am so lost for words here. David, I will always love you and cherish the time we had together. See you in Heaven

Carol Pullen

September 26, 2007

David,
Before you went to Africa, you had a message on your answering machine that said, Can You Hear Me Now?, Can you Hear me Now? Well, David, if you can hear me now, know this. How I wish you were my little boy again, when I could make your boo-boos better with a kiss and a big hug, because I surely would have tried to make this situation better for you, but who was to know you were in such mental anguish. Anyway, Du-Du- if you can hear me now, know I love you so much and miss you so terribly. Love, Mom

Nickie Nicols

September 26, 2007

David, I remember when you brought Jesus Christ into your life. Now I just want to thank Jesus for bringing you into his life in Heaven. Love, Nickie ...

Linda Pullen

September 26, 2007

Hi Du-Du, this is your little sister, Linda-Lou. I am at a loss for words to share with you how deeply sad I am that you are gone from this earth. I truly don't know how to even comprehend in my head that I will not ever see you or hear your sweet voice saying hello Lu-Lu!! I will be there to say a true goodbye to you tomorrow but only a goodbye until I see you again one day when I can hug and kiss you and once again ... tell you how very much I love you - my Du-Du. All my love to you up in Heaven from your little sister !!!!

kitty baudoin

September 26, 2007

David,we met but for a brief moment.in that moment your rich warm hearfelt smile vistited my heart and it's warmth was felt, thank you. You and your kindness live on to plant your seeds of love, tolerence and acceptance. You have made the world a better place.
Kitty Baudoin

Lori Donovan

September 25, 2007

David dearest,
I don't know if I ever told you, but you are the kindest, most loving person I have ever known. To my family, and especially to me, you were an angel on Earth. You gave love and support when times were really hard. Over the past twenty-some years, I have always felt connected to you and considered you the dearest person in my life next to my family. I feel you will always be part of my family.Rest well David. Put in a good word for those of us left behind. I pray we will meet again. I will miss you as long as I live.

.

Sue Carter

September 24, 2007

David,
You were an inspiration as a true disciple of Christ. Your light will shine on.
Sue and John Carter

Amber Forest McHale

September 24, 2007

My Dearest and True Friend David – from the first morning that I met you years ago, until the last night that I saw you (with our beloved Michael), you offered me nothing but smiles, and smiles and love and love. You taught me so much in the last six 1/2 years of knowing you. These lessons include gratitude, service, tolerance, compassion and an appreciation for all of life’s humanity, not just the brothers and sisters that we share land-space with here in San Diego.
Even in your death, you continue to teach me – now I am learning about how I can effect change in a world where the few have so much and the many have so little. All ready I am beginning to choose ways that I can be of service to our “world community”.
David, you were always so kind and generous to me, both in spirit and in deeds. I still am having great difficulties in comprehending the sudden loss of you; a man who enriched so many lives with simple actions that had vast rippling effects. For surely the passing of you has been one of my life’s greatest losses. Why does God allow his wisest, kindest angels to come home and leave the rest of us wondering how to continue on in our days here on earth, without carrying the burden of sadness that the loss of David has incurred? I know enough, from knowing David that, life has it’s purposes, and that ours is not to question why, why, why, but rather to go forward and continue to spread the truths that David shared. These truths include that we are ALL God’s children, that we are all justly deserving of shelter, food, and the comfort of love. That was part of David’s mission in Africa – to spread the word of God, and to ease the physical suffering of any child or adult that David could reach. And let it be known that David reached many.
Things I will miss about David include: his voice and country drawl, his presence on the porch swing greeting all the folks who walked down our street, the way he always dressed so crisp and comfortable at the same time, his love for his and Michael’s dog Mena, listening to him rise at four in the morning to ready himself for work – he never missed work, never called in sick, David whistling back when I whistled for my cats to come home, walking with David and Michael to dinner on winter nights where we huddled together because it was chilly, the way he collected cans for donation money for the needy, his smile – oh that smile, his hair in the morning when he first got up, and again, his tolerance for so many us who still ramble along like lost sheep looking for our flock. David never gave up on us lost sheep. He only prayed longer and praised stronger so that we may know the sweet rejoice in Jesus, as did David.
I am so glad that I got to tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me the last time I saw you.
David, if you’ve got your ears tuned my way, hear me when I say that I love you. Thank you for all that you have done for me, and for all that you continue to inspire in me. I miss you dear one, in great measure.

Sharilyn Chapin

September 23, 2007

We will miss your kind and loving spirit here at work David. Thank you for giving us the oportunity to get to know you in the time we shared. We all love and miss you.

Tom & Sue Braddock

September 23, 2007

Thank you David for the short time we had to share together on this earth. Your beautiful countenance was an inspiration to those who knew you. See you soon!

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