David Marcus Shuford Sr

David Marcus Shuford Sr., age 85, a resident of Albuquerque, died Sunday, June 8, 2014 after a yearlong battle with cancer, at home with his loved ones by his side. A native of Arden, North Carolina, he is survived by son, David Marcus Shuford Jr., his wife Karen, and their three daughters, Stephanie Campbell and her husband Tim and their children Cooper and Cora, Amy Shuford, Kelli Reeves and her husband Kraig; his daughter, Claire Newell Shuford; and his daughter Leslie Diane Gartner and her husband Ed and their children Jessica and Tony. He is also survived by his brother, Robert F. Shuford and his wife Frances Anne and their children Robert and Anne. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Patty Newell Shuford; his parents, Charles and Elsie Shuford; and his brother, Charles Shuford. As a young man he enjoyed archery, attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1946, and played football at Christ School where he was known as "Brute Force." David received a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University. He served in the Army as a first lieutenant and ordinance officer stationed at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama from 1952 to 1955. He received his masters on the GI Bill from the University of Florida. David was a pioneer in the development of high temperature carbon-carbon coatings used on the nose cone and leading edge of the Space Shuttle with many patents in his name for this work. In his later years, he enjoyed working in the yard and helping his daughter Claire in their pearl business. Services will be held Saturday, June 14, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., at the Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum Chapel at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd NE. Friends may visit FRENCH - Wyoming on Friday, June 13, 2014, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400