David O. Edgington

David Oliver Edgington went home to heaven on January 4, 2025 after a battle with cancer. He was attended by his loving wife, Anita and daughter Oteka. David was born to Paul E. and Elaine G. Edgington on August 29, 1941 at home in Santa Rita, New Mexico, the first of five children. On December 21, 1965, he married the love of his life, Anita Mae Miller. 

 He spent his career teaching science, specializing in Chemistry. David known as Mr. E., taught for 44 years in the public schools and one year at Hope Christian School. He was instrumental in establishing Baatan Military Academy in 2007 where he taught and oversaw the Science Department. David retired from teaching when it closed in 2016. When out in the community, he would frequently run across past students who would recognize and stop to talk to to him. David enjoyed finding out about their lives and achievements. 

 David and Anita spent many summers volunteering at Christian Boys Camps where they made lifelong friends with other volunteers. One such friend shared that David was a steadfast witness of the love, grace, and majesty of Jesus Christ. Others have said that he was a great servant of the Lord. He loved the boys and enjoyed teaching them about GOD, nature’s creator and about the wonders of nature. David taught them outdoor skills while leading boys on trail hikes and camping trips. David recently reconnected with one of the men who attended summer camps as a boy, has been called to the ministry and has been a pastor for 42 years. He shared that David was a “courageous, faithful, and an inspiring example for many of us young guys”. His “love, compassion and patience” with them for all those summers “was a powerful lesson” for the boys who were “watching and learning”.

 David was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved teaching his family life skills and taking his family camping and fishing. He was a dedicated Christian, serving in his church as teacher, counselor and deacon. He also assisted the Gideon’s in distributing the Word of God. He was a steadfast witness and a wonderful "big brother" to his four siblings. A nephew shared that David helped set the standard of manhood for him and allows him to “do so many things today and face all kinds of situations with self-confidence rather than uncertainty or fear”. 

 David and Anita suffered a great loss on September 27, 1997 when they lost their son, Timothy Paul Edgington. It was, however a great joy to have the opportunity to love, teach and invest in the lives of Tim’s children, Rebekah Faith and Nathaniel Lee. David played an important role in their lives. He was also blessed to have known each of his great grandchildren.

 David is survived by his wife, Anita; daughter, Oteka Edgington; grandson, Nathan Edgington; granddaughter Rebekah Gregg and her husband, Anthony; great grandsons, Asher, Kieran and Zander Gregg; sisters, Judy Watts, Susan Edgington and Phyllis Roth and her husband, Glen; brother, Donald Edgington and his wife, Toni; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Tim, and was looking forward to his reunion with them in Heaven. 

 A memorial service will be held at Del Norte Baptist Church on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 10:00 am. Please join us in celebrating his life in Jesus Christ.