Syble David

(From Parker Mortuary)

Syble Mae (Clinton) David, 91, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2016.

Syble was born May 18, 1924, in Westville, Okla., to Charles Wilbur Clinton and Lillie Mae (Shumaker) Clinton. Syble moved with her family to the Joplin area in 1930. Her father worked on George W. Potter’s 3,134-acre Wildwood Ranch. Her family lived on the ranch, and she attended Central City and Carl Junction schools. She was baptized as a girl at Central City Christian Church. She served as the majorette of the Carl Junction High School band and caught the attention of Laurence Elmer “Bud” David while she marched in a parade.

Bud and Syble married on June 19, 1942, in a justice of the peace office at 418 S. Main St. in Joplin. The newlyweds briefly lived with Syble’s parents near the Wildwood and in Joplin before Colonel L. N. Barbee hired Bud to work on the ranch. The couple raised two daughters, Barbara Ann and Patricia Sue. The family twice moved to southern California, but both times soon returned to southwest Missouri.

In the 1950s, they moved to the Beechwood Acres Ranch where Bud worked as herdsman. In 1960, they bought a ranch west of Joplin and raised cattle and sold hay to other ranchers. Although primarily a homemaker, Syble held a variety of jobs outside the home. She worked at the Meeker Company, the Safeway Bakery, and Pacific Mercury Electronics. She served as a bookkeeper for her husband’s excavating business, appraised antiques, and conducted estate sales for many years. The couple moved into Joplin in 1989 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2002. Bud died on June 14, 2006, just days before their 64th wedding anniversary.

Syble lived alone until the May 22, 2011, tornado destroyed her home. She survived the storm in her bathtub and neighbors rescued her from the debris. Although she sustained only minor injuries in the tornado, she suffered a stroke a week later and her health never recovered.

Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Ann Wells, of Joplin; her son-in-law, Glenn Twombly, of Joplin; three grandchildren, Jeff Wells (Melissa), of Kearney, Neb., David Twombly (April), of Joplin, and Kari Twombly, of Harrisonville. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Drew Wells and John Wells, of Kearney, and Isabella Twombly, of Joplin. Syble was preceded in death by her parents; her youngest daughter, Patricia Sue “Patty” Twombly; her brother, Burch Clinton; and sister, Dolly Bell Etcheson.

Visitation will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 7, at Parker Mortuary. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. in the Parker Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Bobby Jo Wade will officiate. Pallbearers will be Glenn Twombly, Jeff Wells, David Twombly, Keith Twombly, Clyde DeLoach, and Steve Holt. Internment will follow in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.