Dr. David John Lu

The Lord called Dr. David John Lu home on December 26, 2022. He has joined his loving wife, Annabelle Lu (1929-2014), father Ming Lu, and mother Lai Yeh. He is missed dearly by his family—his four children, David Lu of Lewisburg, Cynthia (David) King of Bel Air, Daniel (Nancy) Lu of Ventura, and Stephen (Yolanda) Lu of Virginia Beach; grandchildren Kevin (Elizabeth) King of Bel Air, Brian King of Bel Air, Annamaria (Eric) Lu of St. Louis, Olivia (Warren) Lu of Austin, Naomi Lu of Ventura, Christina King of Nashville, and Ava Lu of Boulder; three great-grandchildren Levi, Jane and McKenzie King; and siblings John Lai of Boston and Sue Lai of Taipei, Taiwan—and friends, colleagues, students, and the many mentees he advised as a lifelong educator.

Born in Keelung, Taiwan, Dr. Lu's father was a quiet and kind businessman. His mother was the first female elder at the Keelung Taiwan Presbyterian Church. The Lu family's faith enabled them to endure hardship throughout World War II. God watched over Dr. Lu as he waited in a bomb shelter with over twenty people including the kind woman who often gave him candy there. A friend asked David to leave the bomb shelter to get tea. When he and the friend returned, the shelter had been destroyed, all the others perished, and Dr. Lu forever remembered the angelic face of the kind woman.

After the war ended, David achieved a scholarship to attend Westminster Theological Seminary in the United States. He quickly realized lay ministry suited him better and, with his professors’ blessings, left to obtain a PhD in international law from Columbia University. During his studies, Dr. Lu met a beautiful, gentle, and patient woman who would become his future wife. David and Annabelle shared a marriage of love, respect, worship, joy and the occasional trouble that comes from having four children and numerous animals. Annabelle supported him through thick and thin, including when he made two runs for U.S. Congress. David never regretted the experience and opportunity. While campaigning, David met an American veteran who recalled bombed Keelung in World War II on the exact day David left the bomb shelter. The veteran promised David his vote and the encounter became one of David's favorite stories about his American Dream. From 1960 to 1994, David taught at Bucknell University. His daughter Cindy and son Stephen made the mistake of taking his class thinking it would be easy: it was not. David expected the best out of his students just as he expected the best out of himself. It was this high standard and dedication to academic growth that led to Bucknell University showcasing him in a promotional brochure as 'possibly the most energetic member of the faculty'.

As a correspondent for the Japanese weekly Sekai to Nippon (The World and Japan) from 1972 to 2012, David published over 100 articles and traveled extensively in Japan speaking to business and government leaders. His acquaintanceships and friendships with 17 Japanese prime ministers allowed him to write several preeminent texts about Japanese history, culture, and society, all of which he dedicated to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as he did with the other of his 17 books spanning faith, fiction, American history, and business. David's legacy of devotion, education, and humor will be remembered always.

Those who desire may contribute to New Covenant Christian School, 128 St. Mary's Church Road, Abingdon, MD 21009.

The family thanks those who had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Lu for their prayers during this difficult time and invites them to share stories and celebrate David's life on Monday, January 2, 2023 from 6-8 pm at McComas Funeral Home, 50 West Broadway, Bel Air, MD 21014. The church service will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 128 St. Mary's Church Road, Abingdon, MD 21009.