David William Ream's Obituary
David William Ream passed away in Ashburn, Virginia, on Thursday, November 30, 2023.
David was born March 27, 1936, in Albany, California, to George Douglas Ream and Lucile Charlotte Krogue. His father was a medical doctor and David often shared stories of the work he did in his father’s clinic at their home in Berkeley where he took care of medical supplies, including sharpening and sanitizing syringe needles.
After graduating from Berkeley High School in 1953, David studied psychology at the University of California-Berkeley and enrolled in the ROTC program there. Three years later he was called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Calgary, Alberta (Western Canada Mission), where he served from 1956-1958.
David had successfully applied to join the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General cadre, completing his law degree at Berkeley, but not before meeting the love of his life, Home Economics student Judythe Ahlin, while attending the local church congregation. Both David and Judy would frequently recount those heady days on David’s Vespa or side-by-side in his MG. They were married in the Los Angeles Temple on August 15, 1961.
Although he passed the California Bar upon completing law school in 1962, he would never practice law there. Instead, David pursued a career in the Army and took his legal skills overseas to both Iran (1965-67) and Vietnam (1967-68), and finally to the Pentagon, where he spent the majority of his career (1973-2000) as a civilian in the Office of General Counsel under the Secretary of Defense. David was proud of the work he did as the first director of the Standards of Conduct Office to create and enforce ethical guidelines for senior military officers and political appointees. But not all was serious with David during these years. He was known to wear sandals and guayaberas to work, though he always had a suit in his office for more formal meetings.
Having moved to Northern Virginia in the late 1960s, David and Judy and their three children were part of the rapid growth of the LDS church in the greater Washington D.C. area. They both served in senior callings at the ward and stake levels in Annandale and Ashburn, and spent over 26 years serving in the Washington D.C. Temple, including in the temple presidency (2001-2004).
David is survived by his wife of 62 years, Judythe Ahlin Ream, his son Matthew D. Ream (Lisa McKinney) of Parker, Colorado, and his daughter Rebecca Ream Vorimo (Pasi Vorimo) of Ashburn, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Jennifer Ream Willis (David Willis). At the time of his death, David had been blessed with 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
David will be remembered for his deep and abiding faith in his Heavenly Father, his commitment to his family and friends, a gentle kindness, and a devotion to Calvin and Hobbes and The Big Broadcast on WAMU.
David will be laid to rest in a private graveside service at Union Cemetery in Leesburg, Virginia. Relatives and friends are invited to join a memorial service to celebrate his life at 11am on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Church of Jesus Christ located at 21015 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating blood or financial support to Inova Blood Donor Services (https://www.inovablood.org/).
What’s your fondest memory of David?
What’s a lesson you learned from David?
Share a story where David's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with David you’ll never forget.
How did David make you smile?
