David H. Polutta

December 14, 1937 - April 21, 2022

David Henry Polutta was welcomed by his wife Yoko as he entered into his reward as promised by his Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of April 21st. He was born in the twelfth month in the nineteen-thirties to Matthew Joseph and Winnifred Cox Polutta, the youngest of six children. He is survived by his sons John David Polutta and wife Laura, Jeffery Polutta and his wife Melissa, Ken Boleman and his wife Connie, John Boleman, by many grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his oldest brother Matthew Joseph (MJ) and wife Pat, Clarence "Pete" Marcus Polutta and wife Clara, Theodore "Teddy" Francis Polutta and wife Christina, and a multitude of nieces and nephews. David is predeceased by his beloved wife Yoko, his aforementioned parents, his sister Yoland Houton, his brother Laurence “Larry” Polutta who was predeceased by his wife Janie. Even as a child, David was mischievous, once pounding on a live handgun cartridge with a hammer, and shooting himself in the neck. This incident and the subsequent stay in the military hospital, along with the notoriety he gained only encouraged his pursuit of numbskull acts and thus was rescued many times by his older brothers when he got into more trouble than he could get out of, except when he lovingly crossed the line with his mother. He was on his own then. David was raised on the salt marsh and more often than not was in the plough mud, fishing, crabbing, or shrimping off the dock of his boyhood home, or of course, getting into trouble. He had false teeth most of his life due to a game of half rubber with his brothers after one accidentally hit him in the mouth with the stick. As he grew, he began tinkering with boats and motors, and began fishing, crabbing, and shrimping, selling his catch to the local markets. Later it was cars and engines, and he took great delight in retelling of his racing on Dorchester Road from Charleton to Summerville when it was still a dirt road. Somehow throughout these adventures and business endeavors, he lost his taste for anything that came out of the water, refusing to the very end, to eat anything that swam. His boat engines got bigger and his boats became smaller and sleeker until he was racing boats so small and engines so big, he would sit atop the engine with the throttle between his knees and a kill switch attached to his arm. He attended Chicora High School, served in the SC Guard, but was transferred to the US Army in the Heavy Artillery Division. He was later released and returned to serving in the SC National Guard. He then began working at what was then the Westvaco plant in Charleson. He was promoted multiple times and retired decades later after being promoted to Power House Supervisor. David was a member of Oakbrook Community Church in Summerville and The Elks Club. His wife Yoko was the love of his life, and they lived happily for over 25 years. When she fell ill, he dedicated himself to care for her diligently and lovingly for the last five years of her life as she required complete and total care. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital (www.stjude.org) and/or Oakbrook Community Church 705 H Old Trolley Road, Summerville, SC 29485.