BENTONVILLE — David Chandler Schratz,

62, departed this world from his loved ones on February 12, 2023, in Dallas, Texas, after a 2-year battle with leukemia. He was born in Miami, Fla., during Hurricane Donna, on September 8, 1960. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Chandler Schratz and Patricia (Patti) Strohl Cogdell.

David was a 1979 graduate of Northeast/North Little Rock High School. During his life, he lived out his passion of being a proud bus driver for 38 years from 1982-2020 for Dallas Area Rapid Transit(DART), a career he always knew he wanted since age 13. He briefly left DART from 1984-1985 to live in Chicago, Illinois, and work for CTA, then returned to DART. He retired from DART in 2020 shortly after his leukemia diagnosis.

David brought light and love into the lives of each person he knew. You rarely saw him without a kind, shining smile. No matter who he’d meet, he could make a friend and share his warmth with anyone. He had a great adoration for music, travel, buses, and planes, just to name a few. In almost any conversation with him, he would giddily chatter about all things buses and planes. He is often described as a lover of life, goofball, devoted to family, and a go-getter. As his dear high school friend, Bubba Lloyd, always said, “David is just being David.”

He is survived by his wife of 37 years Diana Elaine Newton Schratz of Bentonville, Ark., son David Harold Schratz of Lonoke, Ark., and daughter Laura Schratz of Bentonville, Ark.; the baby brother to Debbie Schratz Schoenberger (Alan) of Park City, Utah, John Keith Schratz of Little Rock, Ark., Lisa Schratz Hull (Brian) of Fort Worth, Texas; uncle to a nephew and four nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Our family would like to thank his whole team at the UT Southwestern Hematology/Oncology Cancer Center in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Robert Collins, Jennifer Renee Schlueter, PA, and all of David’s nurses who were by his side throughout his journey with leukemia.

Family and friends are invited to a reception and celebration of David’s life in Little Rock, Ark., on Friday, March 3rd, 2023, from 5-7 p.m., at the Red and Blue Events Venue. The address is 1415 W 7th Street Little Rock, Ark., 72201.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in David’s name to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at https://www.lls.org.