David Washburn Soelter's Obituary
David W Soelter
September 27, 1928 – November 18, 2022
David Washburn Soelter was a second generation Dallasite. Son of Gerard Lyons Soelter and Gladys Montgomery. He attended Hillcrest High School from 1941 to 1945. He attended University of Texas for one year before transferring to Southern Methodist University in 1946, where he attended until 1949. Active in athletics in both high school and college, he was initiated into the social fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.
David met Lila while a junior in high school and they were married on June 1, 1949 at St. Michael and All Angels Church in Dallas, Texas.
David followed his father’s footsteps into the insurance business in 1949, joining United Fidelity Life Insurance Company as an actuarial clerk. In 1955 he worked for Great National Life Insurance Company of Dallas and later Mercantile Security Life Insurance. In 1971 he rejoined United Fidelity as Executive Vice President of finance where he worked until 1978 when the company was sold to Holiday Life Insurance Company of Dallas. He worked for Weidaman and Johnson which became Life investors in 1981 until he retired in 1991. After retirement he moved to Lake Murray and worked for WinStar in their money room until Covid.
Various unique qualities include:
Nickname was Kemo
Oldest Soelter to date (to our knowledge)
Original member of St Michael’s and All Angels Church in Dallas
Ran marathons
Loved to tell jokes
Oldest employee of Winstar at age 92 “Be like Dave”
Traveled with Lila across the US, Canada and Europe.
Loved sports and being outdoors.
Mentor to employees and children
Survived by wife, Lila, daughters Judy Spiva (Mike), Diane Camarillo (Richard), Geri Shaw, Cindy Holland (Jeff), grandchildren Jenna Bresnan (Matt), Brae Shaw, Audra Blodgett (Taylor), Jessica Kramer (Matt), Sam Spiva, Emily Clinco and great grandchildren Wren, Evelyn, Elric and Lila.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Scottish Rite Hospital, Dallas Arboretum, St Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.
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.
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