David was born at Langley Field, Newport News, Virginia, September 22, 1944, to Robert and Thora Duffield. His parents were instructors in the Army Air Corps flight schools, and during his early years, the family moved to other stateside military locations. Following his father’s separation from the service, the family relocated to Missouri to be near his mother’s family.

David attended Springfield Public Schools, and he was a proud graduate of Central High School (1962). During high school he spent part of his junior and senior years learning welding at (then) Graff Vocational high school. David attended Drury University and worked summers as a welder to meet his educational expenses. He spent weekends and evenings welding cutouts on muffler systems to give his friends’ cars the big muscle car sound. To spare the owners from being ticketed for violating noise regulations, he devised a method for installing removable caps on the cutout pipes.

After college David entered the US Air Force using his biology degree from Drury as a computer technician. He was stationed both in the US and Germany where he found a VW beetle that allowed him to travel on the Autobahn. He developed such a relationship with the car that he brought it back to the US.

Returning stateside, he completed a Masters in Business Administration from Drury and accepted a position with the State of Missouri in Jefferson City, MO. Later his career track brought him back to Greene County, and he retired from the City of Springfield. Following retirement, he completed his Associate of Science in welding from Ozark Technical College where he served as a substitute teacher in the welding program.

David had many interests, most of which centered on autos, and he was a collector of vintage Porsches. He loved auto races, traveling several times to Indianapolis, frequenting the Chili Bowl in Oklahoma, and watching the locals at Springfield Raceway.

David was a good-humored man who loved his family and friends. He loved living in the country and appreciated finding deer families in his front yard. David followed politics and auto racing, and he enjoyed an occasional beer.

David is survived by his sister, Dana Duffield Carroll; his nephews Brandon Carroll and Christian Carroll (Laurali); grandnieces Brooke Carroll and Ashley Carroll; grandnephews Nathan Carroll and Matthew Carroll; his former wife Nancy England and best friends Darrell Crowell and Mike Chamberlain.

Services for David will be held at Greenlawn North on Friday, January 20, 2023, with visitation at noon followed by a service at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Welding Technology fund with the OTC Foundation online at foundation.otc.edu/donate or by mailing a check to 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802.