David Lawrence Trotti

Morven - Mr. David Lawrence Trotti passed away on July 7, 2015 at CMC Union in Monroe, NC. A memorial service to celebrate David's life will be 2:00PM Saturday, July 11 at Leavitt Funeral Home. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Born in Newton, TX to Lynette Moorman Trotti and Bernis Charles Trotti on November 25, 1937, David lived his early life around Dayton, TX where he enjoyed a special relationship with his grandmother, Ide Jackson Sanders and a close association with an aunt, Dora Varnado, and cousins of Alvin, TX. In Alvin, he courted and married on January 18, 1961, his beloved surviving wife of 54 years, Jonny Lou Boling Trotti. The newlyweds continued their education at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, TX, where David, active in ROTC, earned a B.S. in Sociology. He entered the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in May of 1961. As a distinguished career officer, David retired as a Major in October of 1981. Early on, he was stationed in Tacoma, WA. He then served one tour in Korea, two tours in Vietnam - the first with the First Cav Division and the second as a Military Advisor to the Vietnamese. He worked with the ROTC programs at Southwest Missouri State University, in Darmstadt, Germany and at Ft. Bragg, NC. The retired Major Trotti established the JROTC program at Bowman High School in Wadesboro, NC. He continued his professional pursuits as a teacher at Bowman High, inspiring young men and women with his knowledge of national and international history and his genuine interest in his students. Though David's military career was dominant in his life, his unfailing love and care for his family was first in his heart. The Trottis partnered in establishing a home in Morven, NC, raising his three surviving children: a daughter, Davi Lou Trotti of Morven, now serving with the Mercy Ships providing medical services to East African countries; and two sons, John Charles Trotti of Morven, whose career has included 20 years with the US Navy as a cryptologist and currently as a chef; and Paul Lawrence Trotti, a professional nurse of Moorehead, MN. He is also survived by three grandchildren of Moorehead, MN, Gavin Lawrence Trotti and Mickayla Joy Trotti, both currently enlisted in the US Navy; and Dayna Adair Trotti. He has one surviving sister, Betty Lou Trotti of Dayton, TX. David's unique sense of humor, pride in his Italian ancestry, and his life experiences provided intriguing stories, gifts and talents he shared generously with his community. He will be remembered with joy and gratitude by all. PLEASE NO FLOWERS! To honor David, feed the hungry, provide for the needy, donated to a charity of choice or to Circles of Hope, c/o First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan Street, Wadesboro, NC 28170.