David Paul Bashor, Ph.D., 71, of Charlotte, N.C., died on August 16, 2015, at Novant-Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.
David was born on July 21, 1944 in Elizabethton, Tenn., a son of the late David Earl Bashor and Roberta Bashor.
He met and began dating Pam, the love of his life, in high school after they directed the youth choir together at First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton. He went on to Florida State University and earned his degree in Biology in 1966. That summer he and Pam married and together returned to Tallahassee, Fla., where he went on to complete his Ph.D.
In 1971, they moved to Charlotte and David joined the faculty of UNCC. Throughout his 30 year tenure, he mentored many students as they advanced in their own careers. From 1998 to 2003, he also served on the faculty of the University of Manitoba Medical School and was a member of the Spinal Cord Research Center. He retired from teaching in 2003, but continued his research in neuroscience until 2009.
He was an active and dedicated member of the chance choir at Providence United Methodist Church for more than 30 years right up until a few months before his death. Dr. Bashor was instrumental in bringing the storied Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to the church in 2013.
He was a loving husband to his wife of 49 years, doting father to his daughter, a respected colleague and dear friend to many. He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his nephew, Ryan Wolcott Bashor.
He is survived by his wife, Pamela H. Bashor; daughter, Melissa W. Bashor and her husband, Douglas B. Ellington; two grandsons, Devin Bashor Ellington and Bashor Ivey Ellington; sister, Deborah Ledford and her husband John; brother, Mark Bashor and his wife, Katie; niece, Jessie Bashor and her husband Cathal Doyle and their son Liam; and Rachael Bashor, mother of David’s great-niece and nephew, Jocie and Owen Bashor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Music Ministry at Providence United Methodist Church.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, August 24, at Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211 with the Rev. Dr. Bill Jeffries officiating. The family will receive friends in the church atrium following the service.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. Condolences for the family may be made online at www.hankinswhittington.com.