BELLA VISTA — Dr. David E. Grambort,

MD, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., departed June 1st, 2023, at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Ark., due to FTD (frontotemporal dementia). He was born June 12, 1941, in Escanaba, Mich., to Orel and Everett Grambort.

His father was (full colonel) in the Army so Dave and his siblings were Army brats and lived many places, including Japan and the Philippines.

David graduated from Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco and then graduated from Western Michigan University and Wayne State University School of Medicine. He did an internship at UCLA and then served as captain in the Army Special Forces for two years in Vietnam. After serving, he started a five year surgical residency at UCSD. Upon completion, he started his private practice in 1975 in Poway, Calif., and worked at Pomerado Hospital for 16 years.

Dave and Julia moved to Fayetteville, Ark., in 1991 so he could be Chief of Surgery at the VA Hospital. He retired in December of 1999 due to arthritis. Dave was a Washington County Master Gardener and Master Composter. He enjoyed volunteering at AARP Recycle in Bella Vista and Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista. He and his wife traveled to Taiwan and Thailand so he could volunteer to teach surgical residents. He was a nature lover, enjoyed hiking & backpacking, and a worldwide traveler.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Judy Meredith.

He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Julia; brother, Fred Grambort, Md., and spouse, Cecily Yee with two children, Jenna and Brian; sister, Mary Ann Renz with two children, Laura and Emily.

Special thanks to the staff at Circle of Life hospice for your loving care.

There will not be a service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, 32 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, Ark. 72714 or The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas, 601 N. University Avenue, Little Rock, Ark. 72205.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.