David Alan Bartholomew Sr.

David Alan Bartholomew Sr. aged 85, a resident of Romeo, passed away Friday, August 30th, 2024 in Romeo, Michigan.

David was born on December 25, 1938 in Saginaw to Henry and Florence Bartholomew.

David grew up in Saginaw, Michigan and attended Saginaw High School. He played football and was a state champion swimmer.  He loved his family, his church, but above all, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After graduation, David joined the Navy in January of 1957.  David married his high school sweetheart, Rachel Huerta, on July 5th, 1958.  This July marked their 66th wedding anniversary.

After leaving the Navy, David worked for Michigan Bell,  Deciding on a new career, David enrolled in the Michigan State Police Academy in 1968. He worked in several different posts throughout Michigan, including Grand Haven, Romeo, and Richmond. He retired in 1996 as a Detective Sergeant.

If you ask people to describe David Bartholomew, the first words you will hear anywhere you go are Christ-like, Godly, Loving, Faithful, Integrity, Justice-loving, Truthful, Compassionate and (if you knew him well) Tender.  But to me – David Bartholomew was the gospel – lived out.

David evangelized and shared the good news  that formed him and his entire family.  He was bold and had the courage of his convictions.  But mostly, David LIVED this gospel out. Because David was a man of action.

David lived the gospel in humility and service as a husband who put on an apron to help his wife in the kitchen, long before this was fashionable.

David lived the gospel in the community. He cared for his neighbors who needed help.  He and mom fed, clothed, and opened their home to widows, orphans, strangers, migrant workers, and adopted more children and ragamuffins than you can count – some of them family, like us.

David lived the gospel in his civic duty.  He was not afraid to write letters to the editor when he saw an injustice or a wrong that needed to be righted.  He disciplined himself to write civilly but truthfully and was never afraid to stand up for what was right – even when it cost him, and sometimes it did.

David lived the gospel in his courage to do hard things, go back to school, and discipline himself in his private life, in his profession and in his faith walk and study.  I loved watching his commitment to read God’s word with Mom faithfully every morning.  His children carry on this tradition as well because of this modeling.

David lived the gospel by raising godly children and grandchildren.  He loved his kids and grandkids by showing up in their lives, attending every sporting event, production, or award ceremony he could – and always showing his pride with action - by making sure he captured every basket, spike, throw, song, or halftime show on film.

If you want to know what kind of man David Bartholomew was, look at the gospel he and Rachel modeled to their children. That gospel is still lived out every day because they were formed by David Bartholomew- one of the most Christ-like men I have ever known.

David lived out the gospel of Christ – and when necessary, used words.

The verse in the Bible that sums up the life of David Bartholomew reads:

• "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God"

David is survived by, his wife, Rachel, 5 children, Pamela (Bruce) Materazzi, David Jr. (Cathy), Nathan, Adam (Dawn), and Aaron. 13 grandchildren, Jesse (Marissa), David Jordan “DJ”, Shelby (Chris), Raquel “Rocky” (Joe), Zoe, Joshua (Katie), Alyssa, Carli, Adam, Luke, Jenna, Bryan, and Jacob, and  4 great-grandchildren, Rowan, Caleb, Francesco, and Maurizio.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 2-8 pm at the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home in Romeo, MI. Honors will take place at 7pm, along with a short service and memories.

Funeral Service will take place on Friday, September 6, 2024 at the Living Word Fellowship Church (60170 New Haven Rd, Lenox, MI 48048). Gathering time from 10-11am, Service beginning at 11.