David Lawrence Straight

David Lawrence Straight, 76, of Chapel Hill, NC, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Roselyn Straight of Fairmont, WV. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Babcock Straight.

Dave graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1966. He then went to Duke University where he graduated with BS degree in Chemistry. He received a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina. As a lifelong lover of learning, he returned to the classroom at NC State University and completed an accounting program and passed the CPA exam, though he never intended to use that degree. He retired as a Research Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of North Carolina where his primary research focus was coagulation.

He had a passion for sports, both as a participant and a spectator cheering on his favorite teams. Dave’s list of interests is long and varied including his love of dogs, cars, travel, and sailing. During the pandemic, Dave brought joy to the neighborhood by creating outdoor displays in his yard of various rock formations and scenes using artifacts collected over the years. Watching the waves break with a beer in hand at Sunset Beach was a favorite way for Dave to relax.

Friends and family can make gifts to The Promise Fund for the Carolina Covenant (656203) online at give.unc.edu or by mailing checks to the UNC Chapel Hill Office of Development, PO Box 309, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. If mailing a check please note that the contribution is designated to The Promise Fund for the Carolina Covenant (656203).