David Scott Bear, 58, of Winchester, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 in Winchester Medical Center.

Mr. Bear was born in 1960 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of Ben H. Bear and Judith B. Bear. David was known as “The Adventurer”, he always dreamed big from working to become the best tight end in high school metro football league to going all the way to the NFL someday. He played baseball where he pitched to his brother Stan, they were an awesome duo becoming a pitching ace for a pro baseball team. When injury ended his sports dreams, he took to setting a goal to go to Alaska and live “off” the land and soon he headed up to Alaska Highway for months of an adventure.

When he returned, he began painting the scenic beauty he had witnessed and writing poetry. Dave was so proud that he even had a poem published. His travels took him to Texas living in San Antonio and Houston, where he became a carpenter working on million-dollar homes. Then back home to work in Virginia and Maryland plant nursery industry. Dave then join his high school buddies and became a painting forman. In between these jobs, Dave joined an artist commune and lived and painted with his new friends. He traveled up the north east corridor landing in Portland, Maine only to return to start his next adventure which took him to Savannah, Georgia and Belhaven, North Carolina where he worked at marinas. This led him to his next dream of being on a 26-foot sailboat travelling up and down the east coast. He returned to Bear Creek, Maryland to help take care of his sister after surgery. When the sailboat was turned in he stopped in San Diego, California before leaving for Hawaii for a new adventure on the Big Island. Dave’s talents included self-sufficiency by creating his own solar power and water collection system and in spite of living on top of lava. Dave longed for a community and found he was happiest in Winchester, Virginia. Dave loved his family, was proud of his big brother, Stan, loved his weekly calls with his sister Cindy and always told Kathy she was the best little sister. Dave began working at Bo’s Express where he worked hard and loved the people he worked with, finally finding a place where he felt like he belonged.

Dave lived life like a puppy everyday was a new adventure and he set out with twinkling eyes and always shared his exuberance with a hearty “great day in the morning”.

All service with Omps Funeral Home will be private.