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David Lee Kellum, passed away at his home in Chandler, Oklahoma, on Monday, September 5, 2022, at the age of 88. David was born in Kaimosi, Kenya, East Africa, on April 26, 1934. As a son of Friends missionaries, he spent his formative years in Africa, and was a graduate of Rift Valley Academy, Kijabe, Kenya. In 1957 he received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts Education from Friends University, Wichita, Kansas. While at Friends he met Mae Lavern Walkemeyer, and they were married soon after his graduation.
In 1960, David and Mae Kellum answered God’s call to be missionaries in Burundi, Africa. There they raised three children. David considered himself to be a practical missionary, not just proclaiming the good news of God’s love, but demonstrating it in practical ways. While serving in Burundi, he established the Kwibuka Garage, to train young people in auto mechanics and keep the cars of fellow missionaries on the road. The garage became know as the best auto repair shop in the country. David founded a technical school to equip people in other practical skills and trades. Today, the de l’Ecole Technique Secondaire David Kellum, is named in his honor.
When learning that dozens of lives in the Musama area were lost each crossing the Ruvyiroza River, David designed and teamed up with another missionary to build a bridge across the river. The bridge has saved thousands of lives and changed an entire community, giving access to the markets, schools, and hospitals.
During the civil war, 1999 to 2003, David and Mae Kellum returned to Burundi. There, they provided encouragement to Friends and establish a vital link to Friends Churches in the United States through the Sister Church Program. This program rebuilt many churches that were destroyed by the war.
While David left Burundi in 2003, Burundi never left him. Upon retirement, David was one of the founders of the Friends of Kibimba Hospital, a US nonprofit that provides material supplies and medical support for the Friends hospital in Burundi. David enjoyed hosting mission trips, and introducing North American Friends to the Barundi people, whom he loved.
David is proceeded in death by his father and mother, Everett and Ruth Kellum. He is survived by his wife, Mae Kellum, and three children; Debbie Brown, and her husband Todd of Chandler, Oklahoma; Leroy Kellum and his wife Kimberly of Whiteville, Tennessee; Kelly Kellum and his wife, Kathleen, of Richmond, Indiana. He was the proud grandpa of Chelsea (and Rob) Bennett, Josiah (and Courtney) Brown, Corbin (and Lauren) Kellum, and Abigail (and Ryan) Godfrey, and loved his five great-grandchildren. David is also survived by two sisters, Gladys Kimball and Lorna Long, both of Wichita, Kansas.
In 2018, David and Mae Kellum received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Christian Leadership and Service from Friends University. David was a life-long members of the Friends Church, and current member of Chandler Friends Church. In leu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be given to Friends of Kibimba Hospital (Donation are to be mailed to Chandler Friends Church, 215 N. Blaine Ave, Chandler, OK 74834). A Celebration of Life and Missions is being planned for Friday, 2:00 pm, September 30, 2022, at the Chandler Friends Church. The service will be covered live FacebookLive (Chandler Friends Church Facebook page, www.facebook.com/chandlerfriendschurch).
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