David W. Gillespie

David Gillespie: A Life of Service, Love, and Resilience

David was born on June 12, 1934, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Helene C. and Elwood D. Gillespie. He and his sister, Jacqueline (Gillespie) Lewis, were raised in Harrington Park, New Jersey, and both graduated from Dumont High School. After high school, David attended Rutgers University, where he joined the Air Force ROTC while studying for a degree in Animal Husbandry. While at Rutgers, he married Kathryn Gillespie (1936 -1998), and together they had two children, Linda Christian (1956) and David Lawrence (1959).

In 1955, David was inducted into the United States Air Force. He was trained as a pilot, becoming a Captain who flew B-52 Bombers and, later in his career, KC-135s. His distinguished military career included flying missions during pivotal moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis and Soviet aggression in the 1960s and 70s. While his work frequently kept him away from his family, he was involved in important roles, even helping to facilitate the conclusion of the Vietnam War while stationed in Thailand from 1974-1975.

In October 1976, David retired from the USAF at his last deployment, Fairchild Air Force Base. He and Kathryn finally had the chance to build their dream home in the Spokane countryside, with flower beds and expansive vegetable and fruit gardens. David also built a large barn for his woodworking shop, where he continued his passion for woodworking and cabinetry. In 1983, David began driving buses for Spokane Transit Authority for several years. He always loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends and family whenever he had the chance.

In 1997, Kathryn fell ill with an autoimmune disease and passed away in the late summer of 1998.

In 1999, David met Cheryl, and they were married in March 2000. David and Cheryl led an extremely active lifestyle. David became a member of the Freemasons, participating in the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Grotto. These activities gave them the opportunity to travel across the country to activities and meetings, putting thousands of miles on their conversion van. At their church, David and Cheryl remained active, playing a large role in “Thursday Night Live,” a weekly dinner at the church that fed hundreds of people. When not active outside the home, they enjoyed entertaining in their kitchen or spending time at their cabin in Coeur d’Alene. They would host large dinners for friends and always had a warm oven and open arms for family gatherings during the holidays.

David’s strength and resilience were unmatched. As he grew older, he powered through a heart valve replacement, multiple bypass surgeries, and numerous back surgeries. All the while, he maintained a busy lifestyle, working in his garden or woodshop for hours on end. In late 2023, his medical conditions caught up with him, and he moved into a memory care facility on the South Hill in Spokane, where he passed away on August 25, 2025.

David is survived by his wife, Cheryl; his two children, Linda and David; and his grandchildren, Andy, Daniel, Emily, Katie, and Elizabeth.

Memorial Services are to be held 9/5/25 at 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA