June 14, 1951 - February 09, 2022
David Milton Bixby, 70, passed away in Spokane, WA, on Feb 9, 2022, after a courageous but quick battle with cancer. David was born in 1951 to Al & Margie Bixby and grew up on his family’s farm in Milton-Freewater, OR. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1975 with a BS in Political Science. He married Helen Golden in Walla Walla, WA, in 1973. He died a month before what would have been their 49th wedding anniversary. Kennewick, WA was their home for 30 years, followed by Yakima and Spokane. Dave and Helen had 2 children, Jeffrey and Jill, whom he had very close relationships with and was very proud of. His family was incredibly important to him and one of the things he valued most. Dave’s Christian faith and his relationship with the Lord were a very big part of his life. He and Helen ministered together, frequently opening their home to others, and taught couples around the state with Marriage Ministries International. Dave was active in the churches they belonged to over the years, as a worship leader, elder, spiritual father, mentor, and counselor to many. Dave had a long career in banking, for over 40 years he specialized in real estate lending, building and managing mortgage production teams for a couple of regional banks. He began at First Federal Savings & Loan in Walla Walla, which later became Banner Bank, ending as a Senior Vice President there. He served the community on many local non-profit boards, was a past President of the Pasco-Kennewick Rotary Club, and he made many friends in the years of his involvement with the Home Builder Association of Tri-Cities. In addition to lending, he was an Appraiser and Real Estate Broker for the bank, taught classes at the community college on real estate, and served on the Ethics Board for the Tri-City Association of Realtors. At one point, he was quite literally the face of real estate lending in the Tri-Cities area, as he was featured on billboards around town. He also later worked for Yakima National Bank as a Senior VP, and then finally, Dave moved to Spokane to be closer to family, and worked with Northwest Business Development Association as a Risk Rating Analyst, for which he was recognized as one of the best. Throughout his career, he was known for his expertise in his field and was often sought out for advice by his colleagues and associates in the lending industry in Eastern WA. Dave enjoyed his work, but he absolutely loved God, his family, politics, reading, writing, fishing, and following his beloved Oregon Ducks! He was an encourager and a good friend to many and loved to have deep conversations with those who knew him best. Dave is survived by his wife Helen, son and daughter-in-law Jeffrey and Charity Bixby of Wenatchee, daughter Jill Bixby of Spokane, and numerous other family members including his mother-in-law Betty Golden of Walla Walla, his siblings (Linda Jimdar, Jannice & Dick Young, Debbie & Gordon Ausherman, Bill & Kelly Bixby, Kevin & Belinda Bixby) and his siblings-in-law (Mary & Bill Wilson, Tim & Linda Golden, Judy & Phil Dunbar, Bob & Carol Golden), and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held for Dave on Saturday, Mar 12, 2022, at 1:00pm at Pacific Keep Church (River City Church building), at 708 W Nora, Spokane, WA, and streaming online. A memory wall for condolences can be found on the PNW Cremation website.
