NO. 17952 • 12 January 1926 – 22 August 2019
Died in Gilbert, AZ
Inurned in Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA
David M. Monihan, 93. We celebrate the long and fruitful life of David M. Monihan, whose earthly life began on January 12, 1926 in Fort Riley, KS and came to a peaceful end on August 22, 2019 Gilbert, AZ.
David Monihan moved around the country as a child because his father was in the US Army. His adventures included two years at Ft. Huachuca, AZ where he attended a one-room schoolhouse and met Native American scouts who lived outside the fort gates. The next post was Ft. Bliss, TX where he remembers learning how to swim by being thrown into the Rio Grande River by his mother, going horseback riding in the desert by himself at the age of seven, and riding in a Conestoga wagon into town for school.
As a teenager David Monihan helped support his mother by delivering supplies from the PX to various places in the Bay Area including Alcatraz and the Presidio while his father, Col. James G. Monihan, was a POW in WWII (the oldest survivor of the Bataan Death March). It was in the Bay Area that David started his lifelong love of fishing—starting with ocean fishing with his cousin and moving to fly fishing in Virginia in his retirement years. David enlisted toward the end of the war and served until after V-E Day. Afterwards he received a nomination to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point graduating in 1950, following his brother, James G Monihan, Jr who graduated from West Point and entered the US Air Force. David was a member of the Boxing Team at West Point.
David met Beverly Fanning at West Point in 1950, and wed her in 1951 in Hayden, AZ. They were married for over 50 years and enjoyed bridge, traveling, and worshipping God together.
David Monihan served in the US Army for over 25 years, is a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1973. His favorite aspect of serving in the military was commanding men and overseeing the ROTC program in the Midwest.
Lt Col. Monihan earned two graduate degrees from George Washington University—in engineering and in international business. After his career in the army, he worked as an international business consultant.
Both David and Beverly loved their children and traveled with them all over the country and the world.
David Monihan was a kind and generous gentleman. His hobbies included reading (especially military history), squash (he was an avid player and senior champion numerous times), and playing cards—bridge, pinochle, and cribbage. He was a lifelong, faithful Catholic who supported many Christian charities.
Mr. Monihan is survived by his son David Monihan Jr. (Vickie) and his daughter Colene Lewis (Thomas); his grandchildren Heather Haupt, Shea Monihan, Bethany Miller, David “Max” Monihan III, and Evie Heller; and his great grandchildren, Alexander, Keegan, Evangeline, Trey, Keith, Kylie, Greta, Josias, Abraham, Wyatt, Elisha, Joy, and Isaiah.
He was preceded in death by his wife Beverly, children Michael and Elizabeth, his parents James G. and Louise Corey Monihan, and his brother James Monihan, Jr.
Memorials may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1503 Michaels Road, Henrico, VA 23229-4899.
Services will be held Friday, September 6th, at St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church, 2654 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, AZ. Visitation and Vigil at 10 am; Funeral Mass at 11 am. Interment will be at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA on September 9th.