David Cornwell Brose

David Cornwell Brose, 91, of Edgewood, Washington, passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2022, surrounded by many family members.

He was born in the war-torn town of Tongren, Guizhou Province in southwestern China, where his parents, Daniel Frederick Brose and Laura Cornwell Brose, were serving as Christian missionaries. Due to the unstable political situation at the time, his parents returned to the United States shortly thereafter. After China, David spent his early years living in several locations in Ohio following his father’s career as a pastor. David then moved west to Portland, Oregon, where he finished high school when his father accepted a call to pastor in a new denomination there. It was while attending Cascade College in Portland that David met the love of his life, Evelyn Ruth Keller (Evie). After they wed in 1952, David enlisted in the US Army, leading the young couple to live two years in Texas. David and Evie then returned to Portland, where they lived for 14 years on Evie’s parents’ farm on Sauvie Island. It was during that time that David completed his doctorate in psychology at the University of Oregon, followed by their move with their three children to what became their new permanent home in Edgewood, Washington, and David’s new career as a clinical psychologist. He loved his work and continued to see patients until well into his 80s.

David was an active member of First Presbyterian Church Tacoma from the time of their move to Washington State in 1968 until his passing. He lived an incredibly full and active life that included decades of downhill skiing, mountain climbing, hiking and backpacking, week-long horse pack trips into the Cascade Mountains, boating, singing in choirs and solo performance, mentoring youth, swimming, ham radio operating, and being able to repair just about anything related to electronics. He was kindhearted and generous to all, and he and Evie opened up their home to many international student visitors and guests from near and far.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother John and sister-in-law Nila, his younger brother-in-law Allen Odell, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jerry and Carol Egger. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Evelyn; his younger sister Eleanor Odell; his three children: Michael (Marianne) Brose; Mark (Karen) Brose; and Michelle (Aarón) Martinez. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to honor David’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church Tacoma at 2:00pm on Sunday, October 9, 2022. He will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. Memorials may be given to the Camp McCullough Memorial Fund at First Presbyterian Church Tacoma, 20 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, WA.

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