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Beck Funeral Home - Clayton

898 Highway 441 South

Clayton, Georgia

David St. John Obituary

David Wellington St. John, beloved son, husband, father and grandfather, passed away on June 12, 2025. Dave was born in Orange, New Jersey to Harold Wellington and Alice (Reilly) St. John on August 18, 1941. He graduated from Providence College in 1964. After joining ROTC in college, he served in the Marine Corps in Viet Nam in 1966-67, retiring as a captain.

Dave held a number of increasingly responsible professional roles in Operations and Human Resources in companies such as AllState, Friendly's, Ponderosa and Fortis Insurance. He was also a founding partner in an executive search firm. Dave retired as CEO from Donnelly Communications.

Dave was first and foremost, a man of God. His faith called him to love fiercely. His marriage was a model to be emulated as a true example of how two can come together and become one in mind and spirit. It was the greatest legacy he left. To his daughters he was a leader, not to be confused with a manager. His servant leadership sought to bring out the best in his girls so that they held themselves and their worth to high standards. He inspired, encouraged and valued excellence and integrity. Dave loved country music, the outdoors, the beach, his country and most of all, his wife. A man of all seasons, he could effortlessly transition from hunting boar to painting his girls' fingernails. To his grandchildren, he was Pop Pop, always ready with encouragement and a sense of adventure. No one in his family ever doubted his love for them. True to his nature, his last words were, "I love you.".

Dave is predeceased by his wife Pat, his parents Harold and Alice and his sister, Alice Pinone. He is survived by his daughters Beth (Robert) Kaufman, Leah (Jeff) Nedblake and Melissa (Jason) Ball his grandchildren Ethan (Jessica) Kaufman, Rachel Kaufman, Noah Kaufman, Sara Nedblake, Colin Nedblake, Madison Ball, Caroline Ball, Austin Ball, Mary Katherine Ball, and Avila Ball, and great-grandchildren Wesley Kaufman and Carter Kaufman.

A memorial service will be held 11:00am on July 18, 2025 at Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Rd., Marietta, GA 30062.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Tunnels to Towers, t2t.org.

Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Georgia, is in charge of the arrangements and is honored to serve the family of David Wellington St. John. If there are any questions, please call 706-782-9599. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Marietta Daily Journal on Jun. 21, 2025.

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2 Entries

Jill Dwyer

June 19, 2025

I´m a better person for having had Dave as my friend....a giant among men and I´ll miss him deeply.

Beck Funeral Home

June 18, 2025

Our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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Memorial Events
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Jul

18

Memorial service

11:00 a.m.

Catholic Church of St. Ann

4905 Roswell Rd., Marietta, GA 30062

Funeral services provided by:

Beck Funeral Home - Clayton

898 Highway 441 South, Clayton, GA 30525

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