David Wilhelm Raff was born in 1989 in Degerloch Germany.  Although he was not expected to live more that a few days, he walked this earth from more than 102 years.

David was a baker, a skill which would allow him to provided desired services the various situations and economic environments he would willingly or unwillingly encounter throughout his life.  

After serving his time with the Dragoner Regiment of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1912,  David was struck by the wanderlust.  Desiring to see the world, especially South America, he joined the merchant marine promising to return and marry his girlfriend Rosa when his ship returned.  When his German registered merchant ship reached Tacoma, WA it was impounded by the U.S. government.  Its crew were interned as  "prisoners" destined to sit out the "War to End All Wars" (WWI).  

Although the Puget Sound is beautiful David's wanderlust would not allow him to stay in one place too long.  He "jumped ship" and "hobo'ed" around, traveling and exploring the various parts of the United States until the end of the War.  Since David was not only an illegal immigrant, but also technically an escaped POW he would occasionally be arrested.  In these situations his skill as a baker proved beneficial as his custodians  assigned him to bakery or kitchen duty, where they could enjoy the results of his work, rather than to more common labor such as harvesting the crops.  This privileged status not only improved the conditions of his incarceration, but also  allowed him to build relationships with his custodians such that when his wanderlust returned they would often send him on his way with their blessings (or at least close their eyes as he "escaped").

David and Rosa were finally married at the conclusion of the war and eventually settled down in San Francisco, CA where they raised a fine family of 3 sons and 1 daughter.  After Rosa's death  he married Amillia, known as Grandma Mollie to their numerous grandchildren.

David loved God's creation and was and enjoyed hiking through the hills and mountains of California with Rosa, his children, and/or his grandchildren..  He was also an avid armature photographer and recorded much of the beauty he saw.

Although David had seen many parts of the world including China before his ship was interned in Tacoma, and had returned to visit his homeland several times, it was not until after Mollie died that he finally reached South America.  During his twilight years he made several more trips to South America as well as to Germany and other parts of the world such as new Zealand.

Imagine what David experienced in his life.   Imperial Germany to 1990's US, Horse and Buggy to Auto, Airplane to Man on The Moon, etc.

David was a man of faith.  His attitudes and actions demonstrated his Lutheran beliefs  in the good he showed to all.  That a man can maintain his faith for over a century while seeing the changes in technology and social attitudes that occurred during his lifetime is a tribute to both the man and his God.

Copyright 1991-2001 Carl T. Raff, All Rights Reserved.