David B. Haight was born on September 2, 1906, in Oakley, Idaho. He was mostly reared by his mother and older brothers and sisters, because his father died when he was only nine.After graduating from high school in Idaho, David B. Haight went to Utah State University and studied business administration. He then worked as a personnel manager in Salt Lake City where he met Ruby Olson. The night David B. Haight had asked her out, she already had another date set for 8:00. Elder Haight would not give up that easily though, and asked if he could take her out at 6:00. They were married on September 4, 1930. They left the next day for California, where David had taken a job.
During the next few years, the Haight’s were blessed with the arrival of two boys, Bruce and Robert, and a girl, Karen. When the United States entered World War II, David B. Haight felt it was his duty to serve. He joined the U.S. Navy and played a vital role in organizing the movement of supplies to the Pacific. The war was a defining point in Elder Haight’s life. One night when he had to fly to Hawaii, his family had accompanied him to the dock. He stayed up most of that night thinking about his life. “He realized that all that was of value to him he had left back on that dock. He felt his commitment to [Mormon] Church service had not been all it could have been. He promised the Lord that if his life was spared through the war he would accept whatever call came to him and do whatever it required.” From that moment on Elder Haight kept his word.
After the war, the family moved back to Palo Alto, where David B. Haight became the owner of a group of retail stores. He also became mayor. One person described Elder Haight’s work as mayor in this way, “When David Haight was mayor of Palo Alto, he exhibited a vast amount of common sense and let the people envision their needs ten and twenty years ahead. His foresight, along with his integrity and credibility, helped Mayor Haight bring to fruition a number of civic developments and projects that serve Palo Alto’s needs today. But his warmth and goodness also helped him win friends for the [Mormon] Church. They grew to understand and respect the standards he lived by.” (lds.org).
During this same time, David B. Haight also served as president of the Palo Alto Stake for 12 years. In 1963 he accepted a call to serve as a Mormon mission president in Scotland. Following this mission, he served as a regional representative. In April 1970, David B. Haight was called to be an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles, and on January 8, 1976, he was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Mormon Church. When he received this call, he stated, “My great concern is to fulfill my calling totally and fully, with all the ability I have. I know I have been blessed far beyond my natural ability.”
Elder Haight served faithfully as an apostle until his death on July 31, 2004, at the age of 97. He had been the oldest living apostle. Elder David B. Haight is remembered for his ability to train leaders, his ability to uplift those around him, and his unwavering devotion to his sweetheart and wife, Ruby.