David’s Background and Life at Our Senior Community
Sun City West Assisted Living resident David Toth made special buttons for all the employees at our assisted living community!
What does our staff think of David’s efforts?
To thank Sun City West associates, David’s buttons said, “Sun City West Assisted Living HERO.” Assisted living and memory care staff certainly are heroes, and we are proud of David’s creations honoring all their hard work. David regularly helps at the community and was pleased to make the buttons which were later distributed to each of the staff members.
What did David do for work before retirement?
David’s career was in maintenance and telephone repair, making him a handy asset at Sun City West Assisted Living! When things get busy – as they often do – David is always willing to lend a helping hand. He loves the other friendly residents living in the assisted living community, and greatly appreciates Sun City West associates’ dedication to going above and beyond to serve residents.
When and why did he move to Sun City West?
David has been a resident at Sun City West Assisted Living for over a year, having moved in October 2019 shortly after his wife Barbara’s passing. Born in Chicago, Illinois, David lived most of his life in the Midwest, eventually settling in Highland, Indiana. David’s daughter Allison lives in Surprise, Arizona, and after David’s wife Barbara of 66 and a half years passed, Allison encouraged David to move to Sun City West Assisted Living so he could be closer to her.
David met Barbara at a Chicago roller rink in 1948 when they were both only 14 years old! David always enjoyed roller skating, and later became a guard at the skating rink. Growing up in Illinois, David was an avid ice hockey player and speed skater. Quite the athlete, David also loved playing football and baseball. In high school, David’s baseball team won the championship at Comiskey Park in Chicago. David was thrilled to play at Wrigley Field, as well. David also played in several football championships, including at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears!
How did he spend his early years?
Always a dedicated student, David graduated from high school as the president of his class. Following graduation, David joined the Navy in July of 1951. After training, David moved to Jacksonville, Florida where an auxiliary air base had recently opened in preparation for the Korean War. David worked as an aviation electrician, fine-tuning aircrafts unloaded from the carriers at the base.
Upon first arriving in Jacksonville, he and four other men reported to the administration building. Each of them was asked what they did prior to joining the service; one man said he had worked for the Ohio Fire Department, so he joined the Navy’s Fire Department. Another man had worked in an office, so he was put in administration. When David was asked what he did, he told them he played sports. This led to David being assigned to recreation, where he managed the swimming pool, the movie house, the golf course, and other recreational facilities at the base. David recalled how the Captain lived across the street from the golf course and would often help David water the fairways. The Captain would tell David and the other guys, “When you fellas get through, come over to the house and mother will have something ready for you.” After completing their hard work, they all enjoyed dinner at the Captain’s home. “We had a good time,” recalls David.
David married Barbara in 1953. Later David moved to Corpus Christi where he continued working as an aviation electrician. David witnessed many accidents; the pilots practiced dive bombing, and sadly several of them were killed in dive bombing accidents. David was honorably discharged from the Navy in July of 1955, upon which time he moved to Highland, Indiana.
What was his career path beyond the military?
Always skilled with his hands, David went on to work in the telephone repair industry for 34 years. Originally David worked for Illinois Bell, which eventually became a subsidiary of AT&T. He often worked in the field climbing 60-foot towers to fix telephone cables. It was a great job, and in fact, all three of David’s children – Davey, Jimmy and Allison – ultimately worked for AT&T as well! David’s mother also worked for Chicago Southern Bell which was also bought out by AT&T in 1918, and she retired in 1947 after working for the telephone industry for 41 years. Even David’s mother-in-law had a brief stint as a telephone operator for AT&T. “We’re all telephone people,” says David.
As David continued his career in the telephone industry, he also joined the Masonic Lodge in 1962. David enjoyed being in the Shrine, which manages hospitals throughout the country taking care of burn victims and children. “It was like St. Jude in a way but it’s way before St. Jude got to it,” says David. “It was a good choice joining the Shrine.” After four years, David became Master of the Lodge! To this day, David still has his Masonic Shriners hat and occasionally wears it in his apartment!
After retiring from AT&T, David became a bank messenger and part-time maintenance man for an Indiana bank. David worked for the bank for 20 years until April of 2019, when his job was outsourced. At about that same point in time, David’s wife Barbara became very ill, so David was glad he was able to stay home and take care of her.
David’s son oldest son Davey, a retired engineer from AT&T who now works for Verizon, lives in Colorado. Jimmy, living in Michigan, is also retired from AT&T, and has worked as a minister for 15 years. Jimmy is currently working on his PhD from the renowned Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Allison, David’s daughter, lives nearby and brings him whatever he needs. “I’m very proud of my children,” says David. “I’m the richest man in the world.” David also has ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, living all throughout the country in Texas, Michigan, and Indiana. “I don’t see them very often, but I talk to them,” says David.
How else does he benefit Sun City West?
Although David misses Indiana, he enjoys Sun City West Assisted Living and especially likes Life Enrichment Director Judy McNeil and Life Enrichment Partner Maria Romero Espinoza. According to Judy, David is also a big advocate for residents living in the community. “He’s a very invaluable resident here, not only for us but for the other residents because he’s their go-to man,” says Judy. “He’s our spokesperson.”
Besides the engaging activities led by Judy and Maria, David is pleased with their commitment to going out of their way to help residents in wheelchairs, walking down the aisle, reading the menu for the vision impaired, and so forth. The associates at Sun City West Assisted Living are always happy to assist residents wherever needed. “They do a fantastic job. I like what they do, how they handle it, take care of the people even if it is outside the bounds of their job. They go beyond,” says David. He was thrilled to make the “Sun City West Assisted Living HEROES” button using the button-making machine Judy and Maria gave him.
