David Pearson McLain Jr.

01/23/1936 - 07/04/2025

After eighty-nine years, with a well-packed parachute filled with memories of an adventurous fulfilled life and boundless love for family and friends, Colonel (Retired) David Pearson McLain Junior stood up from his jump seat, hooked up his static line, and conducted his final jump into eternity, dying peacefully in his sleep on the 4th of July, 2025.
Truly a twentieth century renaissance man, he loved reading William Shakespeare plays, Walker Percy novels, Wallace Stevens poems, and occasional PG Wodehouse short stories. Cerebral and intellectual, he was equally well-versed with modern military tactics, California wines (he preferred Paso Robles reds), and political discourse (having been a member of both the Republican and Democratic parties during different times in his life). He was steadfastly patriotic to the country he loyally served and equally knowledgeable of the history and cultures of others. A great lover of all forms of music, he regularly would sing along with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. For twenty-six years he was a consistent member of the Trinity Episcopal Church choir, where he loved singing hymns with his bride "T." His booming baritone led the bass section. As a member of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chorus, he sought connection with his father through the elder McLain's barbershop quartet roots. Though one could never call him a "free spirit," he felt affection, community, and camaraderie with people from all walks of life.
Born in Nashville, Tennessee on January 23, 1936 to David P. McLain Sr. and Alma (nee Bishop), Dave was raised in Cleveland, Tennessee until he attended Baylor Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There, he became captain of the football team and president of the Glee Club. Upon graduation from Baylor, he attended Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. While at Davidson, Dave pledged Beta Theta Pi fraternity, played varsity Division 3 football as a defensive linebacker and served as a member of the cadet corps. In 1958, he graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While on break in Cleveland after his freshman year he pinned the love of his life and future spouse Matilda Mae Bowles on the 4th of July 1955. They were married winter break of his sophomore year on December 22, 1955 and remained inseparable for 69 years, until his death.
Upon graduation from Davidson, Dave was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in the Artillery Corps, and remained on active duty for 28 years before retiring as a Colonel in 1986. While in the Army, Dave's assignments included tours with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 8th Division Airborne Brigade in the Federal Republic of Germany, graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, and world literature professor and defensive coach for the sprint football team at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. In 1970 he rejoined his beloved 101st in the Republic of Vietnam. Later assignments included training developer at Fort Monroe, Virginia, Combat Development and Experimentation Command (CDEC) Battalion Commander at Fort Ord, California (at the time the largest battalion in the United States Army), Army DCSPER in Washington, DC, Chief of Army JUSMAGG at The US Embassy in Athens Greece, student at The Royal College of Defense Studies in London England, and USREDCOM Chief of Joint Readiness Assessment at McDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he received the Joint Superior Service Medal upon his military retirement.
Transitioning to post-military civilian life, Dave's varied career included stints as a Project Manager with Systems Research and Applications Corporation (SRA), a training, planning, risk management, and exercise lead developer for Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC), and as an oil spill responder for HARTEC, where he served as lead logistician in support of cleanup efforts for the largest ever pipeline spill in Siberia. Upon moving to Eastpoint, Florida, he served as Executive Director for the Apalachicola Riverkeepers, where he advocated for the protection, restoration, and stewardship of the Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay. From his days as an Army officer to his work as a riverkeeper, Dave poured relentless energy into every mission. An inspiring leader, he challenged obstacles head-on and pushed for better answers with passion and determination.
With three children and seven grandchildren, Dave is survived by his loving wife Matilda "T," daughter Mary, son-in-law Donavon Diez and grandchildren: Mimi and husband Taylor Mathews, Joseph Diez and wife Caro Klureza, and namesake David Diez; son David III, daughter-in-law Sallie, and granddaughters Lacy and Catherine McLain; and son John, daughter-in-law June, and grandsons Jack McLain and partner Beatriz Carreno Coriano, and Finn McLain.
Dave, the parachute opened flawlessly, the canopy is full of air, the sky is all around you in radiant glory. Enjoy the view as you gracefully float to the drop zone of eternity.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Apalachicola Bay and Riverkeepers, P.O. Box 8, Apalachicola, FL 32329 (https://apalachicolariverkeeper.org/donate-now/) or Trinity Episcopal Church, Apalachicola, Florida, PO Box 667, Apalachicola FL 32329 (https://www.trinityapalachicola.org/Donate.php). Service private.