David Greist

Posted on January 29, 2020

David Greist passed away on Jan. 11, 2020, in Perry at the age of 101.

He was born on March 31, 1918, in Monticello, Ind., to medical missionaries Dr. Henry W. and Mollie Greist.

Greist lived a life that was anything but ordinary, from living beyond the Arctic Circle to meeting the famous Charles Lindbergh, to flying military missions 200 miles behind enemy lines, to, at age 17, helping his mother prepare the bodies of Riley Post and Will Rogers following their fatal plane accident in Alaska.

In 1920, when David was only two years old, he and his family moved to Point Barrow, Alaska – the northernmost point of the U.S.  They lived in a predominantly Inupiat Eskimo village for 17 years that was home to approximately 350 people. Greist was immersed in the Eskimo culture, becoming fluent in the Inupiat language. He learned their traditional dances, how to herd reindeer and hunt with a bow and arrow.

Greist’s family moved back to Indiana in 1937, and he graduated from Hanover College in 1942 with a degree in education.David Greist joined the Army Air Corps following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1966, climbing the ranks to become a lieutenant colonel, commander of a 400-man squadron, with a 15-plane KC135 squad at the McCoy Air Force Base – which is now the Orlando International Airport – in Orlando.

By the time he retired from the Air Force in 1966, Greist had flown 27 different military planes and traveled the world. David served in World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War.  He accumulated a total of 10,000 flight hours. After retiring from the military, he went back to college and earned his master’s degree. David Greist taught seventh grade students geography for 13 years.

Greist is survived by: his children, John Greist of Bell (Fla.), Jim Griest and Kay DeLong, both of Perry, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

David Greist was the eldest member of New Home Baptist Church in Perry where he attended as often as his health would allow. 

In the last months of his life, he greatly enjoyed playing Skip Bo with his son, Jim Griest. They were known to often change the rules of the game, just to make it more fun.  

He loved going to work with his son, Jim, at New Home Baptist Church, where he would often play the piano by ear.

David served the church each week by helping fold the church bulletins for the upcoming Sunday. 

He had a passion for helping people and everyone that knew him loved him dearly.  He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

No services are planned.