May 7, 2008
David Donald Flaherty
David Donald Flaherty, son of Don and Lena, born February 9, 1949 in Jamestown, North Dakota, entered into Eternal Rest on May 7, 2008. The family moved to Minnesota in late 1949. In 1951, his father was called to active duty in the United States Army due to the Korean War. Later, they moved to Lodi, California in 1953. David attended Kindergarten through high school in Lodi and also attended Salem Evangelical Church and was confirmed there. In 1969, David was called to active duty in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. Also in 1969, while home on leave, he married Deborah R. Meyer, daughter of Esther and Elmer Meyer. After his discharge from the Army, they began their lives together in Lodi and had two sons, Nathaniel David and Ryan Patrick. David worked for Southern Pacific Railroad for several years. In 1982, he was employed by the U.S. Border Patrol, later transferring to Bellingham, WA with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization and Intelligence, where he achieved the rank of Major. They lived in Washington for 14 years until he became ill, then transferred back to Lodi in 2001 working again for the U.S. Border Patrol, retiring after 25 years for the federal government in September 2007.
He was currently co-owner of Biker Components Motorcycle Shop in Lodi. He was preceded in death by his brother, Greg, and his grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; sons, Nate and Ryan; parents, Don and Lena; sister, Katherine, her three daughters and their children, and many good friends from Bellingham, Oregon, Blaine, Livermore, Stockton, and Lodi.
He was a very kind, generous, good-hearted person who will be greatly missed. Friends were invited to visit on Monday, May 12, 2008, from Noon until 8 p.m. at Lodi Funeral Home. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, May 13, at the funeral home at 1 p.m. with committal having immediately followed at the Cherokee Memorial Park.