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David Crenshaw Worth, Jr., 77, died on April 11, 2020. He was born in Raleigh on November 16,1942 to David Crenshaw and Candace Olive (Pittman) Worth and grew up on a family-owned dairy farm. He graduated from Broughton High School and earned a BA in economics from Presbyterian College, where he enjoyed singing and traveling with the men’s choir. He proceeded to receive his JD degree from UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Law. He also served as captain in the US Army in Artillery. While on duty at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, he was involved in a tragic car crash, resulting in the loss of his right leg and chronic pain.
David was a lifelong and active member of First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh where his family’s roots are deep, where he was baptized, and where he met and married life partner, Pamela Greer. He taught Sunday School, moderated various committees, enjoyed singing in the choir, and was elected several times as deacon and elder before being elected Elder Emeritus. David remained engaged on the Session even in his last week of life. He loved participating in Early Birds and valued the relationships fostered there.
Professionally, David worked as an attorney with a focus on banking and finance law. He was a vice president and in-house counsel at First Federal Savings and Loan of Raleigh and was later an attorney with the NC Commissioner of Banks before retiring in 2009. Not one to rest for long, he then embarked as a contract course evaluator for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors where he worked until his death. As his colleague at CSBS stated, “If the NMLS Mortgage Education Program had a college dean, Dave would have been it.”
David used his sharp intellect and servant leader attitude to lift up two organizations of personal importance to him outside of church - the Kiwanis Club and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Greater Carolinas chapter). The latter passion stemmed from Pam’s diagnosis of the disease in 1988. He served as her primary caregiver for almost 20 years even as he battled with his own health issues. Life threw many obstacles at Dave which he overcame through a deep faith, profound sense of duty, pragmatism, commitment, and sheer will. He never complained about his situation and those who knew him learned a lot about resilience, quiet strength, and resolve simply by observing his character. He loved a good joke and often imparted his wry wit to others. He loved music and dancing, driving around in his 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible, and he devoured books. His balm was playing bridge outside in the backyard listening to the sounds of nature with a good set of cards and a great set of friends. David is survived by his two children, Rev. Candace Aurelia Worth (Elvin Preston Harris, Jr.) of Chattanooga, TN and Sarah Worth O'Brien (Sean) of Durham, NC; three grandchildren, Virginia Greer Harris, Avery Elizabeth O'Brien and Jacob Cole O'Brien; sister Olive Worth McCord of Greenville, SC; and 8 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Pam of 45 years.
A celebration of David’s life will be arranged at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, at 112 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-1344.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., Raleigh. Condolences may be made at brownwynneraleigh.com. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/raleigh-nc/david-worth-9126031
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Charles Winton
Many great memories of David from our High School years, although we lost touch once we graduated. We palled around a lot at school and occasionally went on evening "patrols" when we couldn't get dates. I particularly remember our times in band and orchestra, Since orchestra conflicted with our PE class, we were given permission to cut PE by Coach Walker to go to rehearsal. Many rehearsals were for strings only, but we went anyway and hung out in the band room helping Mr. Southwick. That got us into the habit of also cutting assemblies to hang out in the band room. We were planning on cutting the one for the honor society induction but decuded not to because David figured I just might get tapped (which I did). I always wondered what trouble we would have been in if we had cut that one. I enjoyed a brief visit with him at the 50th and will always remember the fun times we had togehter at Broughton.
Herbert H. (Herb) Cobb
Regret learning of David's passing. We were classmates, but came to know each other better after graduation while working the summers of ''62 and '63 at Pine State Creamery where our fathers worked. We reacquainted during Law School, but became friends after we returned to Raleigh in 1977 and became active members of First Presbyterian Church. We were also 'around the corner' neighbors in North Raleigh off Six Forks Road. He and Pam were a long-time item and couple. They were good friends. I give thanks for his life.
James T. (Jim) Carper
Was sad to learn of David's passing. Was quite a guy and a good friend. Knew David form Broughton and Scouts. Spent a lot of time together during weekends during HS years and in Summers, boating, camping, riding horses at their Farm off Hwy 50. Will never forget him teaching me to ride one of his horses with an old Calvary saddle made of wood; I couldn't sit down for several days after.Spent many nights at his house where his Mom, a former HS Latin teacher, helped me make it thru one year of Latin. When we weren't at his house on weekends, we were at mine. Both of my parents were very fond of David.We both played in the Broughton Band. After HS, David headed to Presbyterian College and I headed to NC State, so we saw each other only occasionally. After graduation, I headed to the Army and Vietnam; David headed to Law School. When I got home from Vietnam, David and I got back in contact and I met Pam just before David reported to Army Officer Basic and JAG School. Again, we lost touch and while he and Pam were in Germany, I moved to Wilmington to work. Hated to hear about his accident. We got together several time whenever I was in Raleigh and renewed our friendship over lunch. He and Pam joined a group of us for lunch the weekend of our 50th reunion. We were all please that they had come. The next time I saw David was after learning of Pam's passing, which was several months after her funeral. I went to Raleigh and visited him at his house and met his family. We had both loss spouses, mine many years before, so we talked about healing. David shared with me how grateful he was that Pam had stuck with him and helped him get thru the hard time of recovering form his accident and losing his leg. He was brought back to Walter Reed from Germany and saw so many young wives there helping their husbands thru terrible injuries sustained in Vietnam and finally deciding that it was too much for them. He loved her even more because she never waivered. I will always remember David and the good times we had together.
Larry Lovvorn
David sat next to me in the trombone section for all three years at Broughton. Still liked each other after all that time :) We were in the Scouts together and did a lot of things with the same groups of people,including trips to their farm on 50. In fact, after graduation about a dozen of us were going there when the word got out about a party and about 50-60 people showed up. So do Mrs. Worth who spent the night looking out the window. Kinda killed the event! Lost contact after NBHS when we each went our own way but I kept up with him through other friends. At the 50th I was pleasantly surprised to see him at the Friday night event downtown and invited him and Pam to join a group of us for lunch in Cameron Villiage on Saturday. They came, both in their wheel chairs, and seemed to enjoy our time together . He was a master at getting both chairs into their van. Later I saw Pam at Springmoor where my parents lived and talked to her several times. as well as to him by phone. So sorry of the difficulties he had in his adult life but he seemd to not let it bother him. A person of strong will. May he rest in peace with Pam by his side.