David Eugene Tester

David Eugene Tester, age 77, passed away peacefully on Jan. 6, 2015, at his home in Bella Vista, Ark. Born Dec. 26, 1937, in Cloquet, Minn., at Tester's Maternity Home, a birthing center operated by his grandmother, Mabel Tester. Preceded in death by his parents, Goldie and Harold Tester; his first wife, Lynn Roningen Tester; sisters, Shirley Morrison and June Duffy Switzer; and brother, Thomas Tester. Survived by his wife, Patricia Pearce Tester, whom he married in 1993 and took great, loving care of him during his later years; his four sons, Jack (Barbara), Mark (Sherie), Daniel (Sherry), Eric (Jennifer); and grandchildren who he adored, Lauren, Brent, Jessica, Meaghan, McCoy, Nathaniel, Brook, Antoine, Lillian, Thomas, Isaac, Grace and Magnus. David also had a multitude of lifelong friends he greatly cherished who will miss him deeply. David attended St. Jean's High School in Duluth, Minn., where he was salutatorian of his class, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he served as president of his senior class and later as president of the Alumni Association. He spent his entire career in the convention and tourism industry managing convention and visitor's bureaus in Duluth, Oklahoma City, Birmingham and Milwaukee, and in exposition and meeting management with the American Public Works Association and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. After retirement, David greatly enjoyed volunteering at the Northwest Medical Hospital in Bentonville, Ark. David loved big band music, most notably Maynard Ferguson and the Stan Kenton Orchestra, as well as classic movies. He could not be beat in a trivia game involving movies from the 1920s to the1960s. He was also interested in the theater, having acting parts while in college and later in life after retirement in Syracuse, N.Y., and Bella Vista, Ark. He seemed to always get the part requiring an English accent which he deployed frequently even when not on stage. David had an amazing sense of humor which he retained all his days and a stalwart faith that God's plan for each of us is perfect. David had a true love of his family and was most happy in their presence or when showing off pictures of his grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. at Cooper Chapel, 504 Memorial Drive, Bella Vista, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Circle of Life Hospice, nwacircleoflife.org.