David Unruh

Obituary: David Owen Unruh was born in Colby, Kansas on March 1, 1941 to Sam W. and Opal (Jennings) Unruh. He passed away on March 20, 2015. Family and friends were with him throughout the day on March 19, 2015 and he was heaven-bound in the early morning on March 20, 2015. He spent his early years in Colby and graduated from high school in 1959. After high school he attended the University of Kansas and graduated with honors in 1964. He then attended graduate school there and was awarded a Fulbright Research Scholarship to Korea for two years from 1966 to 1968. He later attended graduate school at Northeastern University in Boston. He married Ellen Salem in 1966. The marriage ended in divorce in 1977. He lived and worked in Boston for the last 35 years and during that time remained in contact with his Kansas family, his friends from KU, as well as established close relationships with friends in Boston. He was described as being scholarly, witting, gracious, kind, and always interested in what others were doing as well as willing to help out when help was needed. Despite his long years in Boston in retained his Kansas accent and was known by his friends as “Kansas”. A memorial gathering was held in Boston on April 12 at the home of his adopted Boston family, John Payne and Louane Hann. He will be missed by his brothers, Jim and John, as well as his sisters, Mary, Carolyn, Jeanne, and Cindy as well as 11 nieces and nephews and 15 great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by an Aunt and Uncle, Elaine and Don Smith.; special friends, John Payne and Louane Hann and their children (and David’s adopted nephews), Jefferson and Andres; Max and Mary Snyder, Hugh and Mary Varden, and his many others whose lives he touched. Family will be available on May 9 from 10:00am-10:45am at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel and interment to follow at 11am.