David Joseph Sanborn

David Joseph Sanborn was born on June 23,1938 in Corydon, Iowa to Jubal & Leona Sanborn.

As the second of 6 siblings, he grew up on the family farm in Iowa milking cows and slinging 

Bales of hay. He is fondly remembered as saying that his childhood home had “4 rooms and a

path, a path to the outhouse”.

Growing up, David attended a 1 room schoolhouse up to the 8th grade when he was transferred to high school. After graduating in 1956, he entered the Naval Service and was subsequently

Stationed in San Diego to a Naval Air squadron. During his four years in the U.S. Navy, he

participated in several Western Pacific Deployments on board multiple Aircraft Carriers

supporting military operations in southeast Asia. David was honorably discharged in 1960 and decided to settle in San Diego where he met Esther in 1963 while attending church.

David and Esther married in 1965, bought a house in which they remained for 40 yrs, and began to raise their two awesome kids. He took on a role as Purchasing Manager for Pacific Southwest Airlines purchasing everything from tires to engines until his retirement from the airline industry 31 years later. In 2006 they relocated to Murrieta, CA.

As an energetic man who refused to sit around, David started a Handyman business which blossomed into a second career accomplishing tasks ranging from hanging curtain rods to replacing windows. He found his joy in serving others and his church by spending many Sundays ushering or driving the church bus. You could always depend on his humble demeanor and servant heart at a moments notice.

You would often find David after work and on weekends tinkering in the garage repairing or creating something great. He was always willing to lend a helping hand if you needed assistance repairing your house or building a gate to keep your boys and girls in the backyard.

As a loving Grandfather he was affectionately known as “Papa” and loved spending time with his grandkids camping, teaching them to ride bikes and playing games, especially checkers.

As avid RV’rs while the kids were young, David and Esther continued on their road adventures during retirement traveling from beaches to mountains and deserts and making it as far as the “Top of the World” in Barrow, Alaska.

David is survived by his wife Esther of 58 years, son Michael (Gwyn) Sanborn, daughter Becky Leash. Grandchildren Adam (Laikyn) Leash, Trevor (Carly) Leash, Nathan, Dylan, Erin Leash,

Mikayla, Gracelynn Sanborn, Katelynn, Kelsey Bridges.

He also leaves brothers Daryl (Leona) Sanborn, James (Janice) Sanborn, Caryl (Angie) Sanborn and sister Janet Schoch. David was preceded in death by older brother Donovan Sanborn.