David - One of the Good Ones.

A friend from my elementary / junior high school died over the holiday weekend. Although I have mixed feelings about the school itself, and the time I spent there, there were a few people who stood out as "the good ones." David was one of them.

Here's his obituary. It was originally published in the Austin American Statesman. 

David Alan Eddington

David Alan Eddington Dave was born in Inglewood, CA January 10, 1969 and died July 3, 2011 near Port O'Connor, TX. He is survived by his mother Diane (Dee) Eddington, brother Ragan Eddington of Lake Havasu City, AZ, brother Mike Eddington of San Jose, CA, his fiancé Carmen Valera of Austin, TX, close cousin Suz Blaue of Huntington Beach CA, and family and dear friends everywhere. Dave never met a stranger, even when he traveled throughout the world, from Ireland to Thailand, and countless other places. You couldn't help but like him, he had an announcer's voice, an easy smile and a genuinely caring personality. If it was important to you, it was important to Dave. Dave was baptized at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Inglewood and attended Bethany Lutheran School in Long Beach, CA where he was confirmed. He achieved the highest honor of Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout. After graduating in 1987 from J.F. Kennedy High School in Long Beach, he attended Long Beach City College, then graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with an Associate Degree in Professional Aeronautics. Dave was most recently employed as Director of Maintenance for Azlonair Service in Austin, TX, where he has lived for the past 11 years. He was also a licensed private pilot, working towards a commercial license with jet rating. In addition to flying, Dave loved scuba diving, boating, fishing, cooking and cars. Dave will always be dearly loved by his family, fondly remembered by his friends, and deeply missed by all who knew him. He was predeceased by his father, Ron Eddington, and younger infant brother, Jonathan. A memorial service will be held in Austin, TX on Sunday July 10, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at Risen Savior Lutheran, 2811 Aftonshire Way, Austin, TX 78748. Following services a reception will be held at Carmen's family home at 1707 E. 6th Street Austin, TX 78702. A second memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3163 Maricopa Ave., Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86406. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mercy Medical Airlift.
Published in Austin American-Statesman on July 8, 2011

This is my favorite David story.
I was in the 9th or 10th grade. David was in the class one year older. We went to youth group called "ROCK" (Recreation of Christian kids). One night we all went on a progressive dinner; one course being served at a different house, from appetizer to dessert. At the first house there was a TV on. It was showing some monster movie, something about piranha or alligators eating people - standard monster-movie formula of pretty girls getting eaten by stuff, scientists that had everything wrong, cranky old weird guy who saved the day, etc. There were probably about 20 of us there. All 20 of us started watching the movie, much to the chagrin of our counselors. The next house we went to someone promptly found a TV so we could continue watching the monster movie. The counselors were getting mad that we weren't mingling. At each house we would search for the nearest TV and crowd around to see who was going to get attacked and eaten next. By the time we got to the house that had dessert, the counselors had given up trying to stop us and decided to join in the fun. It wasn't the evening that everyone had planned for us, but it was fun, nonetheless. The best part was that for part of the night David held my hand and at the end of the evening, stole a kiss goodnight.

Rest in Peace, David.