Arthur David McDole

Ava, Missouri

Heaven opened its doors for a great man, father and papa on September 13,2016. He was fully armed with his famous smile and a loud, "Howdy!" when he got there.

David was born September 22, 1930 in Abilene, TX to Arthur Amber and Mary(Nail) McDole.

David and Donna (Bradshaw) McDole were united in marriage on September 24, 1970 at the Rock of Gibraltar, bordering Spain, and in this union raised three daughters.

Dad joined the Navy at age 17. He showed up at the Marine recruiter office, who had stepped out for a minute, so, the Navy recruiter came out, bought him a coke, and as that was a rare delicacy for him, a Naval career was born. He served 28 years, spending several of those as a Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. He served a tour in Korea and Vietnam, then volunteered for a 2nd tour in Vietnam. He retired with several prestigious honors, which included receiving the purple heart. Dad referred to the military life as some of the best years of his life (aside from having us girls)! Even into his early 80's, he said he would go back in, if they would have him. How blessed they are to have you in God's infantry now, Dad.

After Dad retired from the Navy, he went on to be Hospitalman Chief, night administrator at St. Jude's Children's research hospital, in Memphis, TN. From there, he took our family to Gretna, LA, where he worked for Taylor Diving Co. with the hyperbaric chambers, and was their resident medical personnel. He then decided to "actually" retire and moved our family to a little town in Missouri called Ava. He always dreamed of having his own farm and raising cattle. He had worked numerous cotton field crops and farms as a boy, and now, he would have his own. You would have used the word "retired" loosely, when it came to our dad. He worked nonstop on that farm, building a bridge, a workshop, and a barn, to name a few. There was nothing he could not fix. We never took our vehicles to the shop, why would we? Dad built the shop and hired himself as our resident mechanic among other things, such as carpenter, gardener, farmer, veterinarian, he even gave us our vaccinations and pierced our ears.

Growing up with our dad, there were rules. Our friends were cautious when visiting, some didn't want to come back, but even today, as we tell those same friends the news of Dad
going to heaven, who are now parents themselves, the words, "He was a great man" keep being repeated. Respect is what that translates to. He had a heart of gold, but you were going to earn the right to be a part of that.

For fun, which always involved competition, Dad enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing horseshoes, playing pool, bowling, swimming, skiing and a host of other things. Something you could always find him doing (yes, even in his 80,s) was sunbathing, and you guessed it, he even made that a competition. He came from a strong Native American background, he always had the best tan, there was no competition there.

Dad trick skied in the Navy, performing shows. One great memory of those stories is that during a show, he had a chair sitting on a disc and went by the crowd with his legs crossed, reading a book. He underhand fast pitched softball on a team while in the Navy, as well. He tried letting us hit off of that pitch, we ultimately decided that softball may not have been our sport. He did, however, race us, play basketball, badminton and volleyball with us and he even built a long jump sandpit to practice for track. In our eyes, there was truly nothing he could not do. We will miss his laugh and the ornery nature he continued to perfect until the day he left. His memory will live on in us, his grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends and everyone that had the privilege to sit and have a little chat with him.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his little brother Kenneth LeRoy of Abilene, TX, and his sister Joyce Evelyn of Ballinger, TX.

He is survived by his three daughters, Donna Lisa Vanderploeg and Paul Vanderploeg of Waterford, CT, Deanna Lynn Halbert and Jeff Halbert of Rogersville, MO, and Dawn Jeanene Longino of Ava, MO.

His grandchildren, Dakota Shane Walsworth, Payton Raelyn Anderson, Kacy Dawn Longino, Kaidon Brooks Anderson, Cera Julianne Longino and Kennedee Grace Anderson.

His siblings, James Eugene McDole and Joahan McDole of Biloxi, MS, Melody Juanita Miller of Forsyth, MO, Bobby Ray McDole and Beth McDole of Dunnelon, FL, and Lorna Sue Doan and Roger Doan of Lewisville, TX.

Memorial services for David will be Friday, September 16, 2016 at
11:00 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.
Officiating will be Pastor Oren Alcorn.

Burial will be Friday, September 16th at 2:00 p.m.,in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO, with Full Military Honors. Cremation services being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.