David A. Meier
May 27, 1929 – October 22, 2021,
Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2021, and then went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and God Almighty.
Raised during the Great Depression, David had a bone disease that affected his right leg, which required surgery by a specialist that chiseled out most of his femur. While in the hospital, he earned the moniker "Doc", which was used by family and friends throughout his life.
David was the youngest surviving son of Henry and Ethel Meier, with brothers Edward, Craven, Robert (Bob), John, and Gustav, all preceding him in death. Sisters, Monte Belle (Sis), Dorothy (Dotty), and Francis, all preceded him in death. Joyce (Meier) Altemore, is the last surviving sibling of David.
Growing up in the Depression, Dad worked in a Malt Shop where he made an errant batch of ice cream using only cream and not milk. His boss at the time hid his mistake and they both ate that batch of ice cream not telling anyone else. His love of ice cream and sweets stayed without him his entire life, sneaking into the kitchen to eat a bowl or two when no one was looking.
David loved airplanes and everything to do with them. At age 12 he worked part-time at Rich Field in Waco, cleaning and gassing planes, and bartered his labor for flying lessons. At age 16 he earned his Private License and flew general aviation aircraft for many years including an Aeronca Champ. He flew with the Civil Air Patrol, and when needed he flew search missions looking for downed aircraft along with his friend Orlan Scott, who passed away just a few days before David. In his later years, David was outside with his son-in-law, John, and saluted the Space Shuttle as it passed overhead.
David worked with his family in the construction business as his Mom, Ethel, said you can do anything you like but first you will learn your father's trade. That was sage advice as David's work provided everything his family needed all his life.
David never let any grass grow under his feet, as many considered him to be the hardest working son of a gun that ever lived, to a fault. David only really rested after a long day at work, when his kids would take off his work boots and hand him his daily beer (only one, mind you).
While in the building business, David had a great group of men he mentored over the years that went on to successful careers. Guadalupe (Lupe) and Roy Garza, and Jaime Flores, worked with David over the years and David's sons, Ricky, Larry, David Alan, worked with him over summers, or when they could. David was very frugal and built his home with his brothers' help using leftover building materials and hard-saved money. He never had a mortgage.
At one hospital addition, the team had completed a large concrete pour on the 6th floor of the building and were wrecking (removing) the wood-concrete forms. One of the forms just would not budge, so David, as he commonly would do, got in there and wrecked it free. Unfortunately, that 5' x 8' concrete form fell and hit David Alan (your author) in the head on the ground six floors below as he was operating a material hoist. Dad said, "I've kilt my boy", rushed down to find me awake but dazed after being knocked out by that form. Dad did a quick check, then gave me 50 cents and told me to go get a Coke and some aspirin, then get back to work. Mind you, we were at a working hospital. That was Dad's work ethic in a nutshell.
David's sister, Monte Belle, introduced him to Janice Guthrie, a widow with two children, Ricky and Larry. Well, love set in and they married on June 9, 1962. Three other children were born into this marriage, Dawn, David Alan, and Robert. Dad was accepted into Janice's in-law family, the Guthrie's, as one of their own. Mama Guthrie, especially, always looked after him and was always bringing him nice slacks from the factory she worked at. Many Thanksgivings and Christmas were spent at the Guthrie's.
Dad loved us kids and on Saturday mornings, he was either teaching us how to work on cars, changing the oil, or he was leading us on long bicycle rides all over Waco. Occasionally, he would show off by sitting on the handlebars and riding the bike backward.
Eventually, Dawn married Walter John Rusek, Jr. and John became the fifth son of David and they were there for each other from that point for the rest of David's life. As all the kids grew up and married, David was Grandfather to Mary, Kyle, Zach, Walt, Katy, and Cameron, and Great-Grandfather to Zach's son, Dean.
David and Jan never really had a chance to travel much, but David did get to set sail with David Alan while he served in the Navy, cruising from Norfolk, VA to Mayport, FL. I'll always get a chuckle from this memory as Dad got seasick in calm seas but could stomach aerobatics in an airplane with no problems.
If you can, please join us for a celebration of his life on Thursday, October 28, at 1:30 p.m. at OakCrest Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Sipe officiating, followed by burial at Rosenthal Cemetery. Prior to the service, there will be a visitation from 1 – 1:30 pm at OakCrest.
OakCrest Funeral Home, Waco, Texas
May 27, 1929 – October 22, 2021,
Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2021, and then went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and God Almighty.
Raised during the Great Depression, David had a bone disease that affected his right leg, which required surgery by a specialist that chiseled out most of his femur. While in the hospital, he earned the moniker "Doc", which was used by family and friends throughout his life.
David was the youngest surviving son of Henry and Ethel Meier, with brothers Edward, Craven, Robert (Bob), John, and Gustav, all preceding him in death. Sisters, Monte Belle (Sis), Dorothy (Dotty), and Francis, all preceded him in death. Joyce (Meier) Altemore, is the last surviving sibling of David.
Growing up in the Depression, Dad worked in a Malt Shop where he made an errant batch of ice cream using only cream and not milk. His boss at the time hid his mistake and they both ate that batch of ice cream not telling anyone else. His love of ice cream and sweets stayed without him his entire life, sneaking into the kitchen to eat a bowl or two when no one was looking.
David loved airplanes and everything to do with them. At age 12 he worked part-time at Rich Field in Waco, cleaning and gassing planes, and bartered his labor for flying lessons. At age 16 he earned his Private License and flew general aviation aircraft for many years including an Aeronca Champ. He flew with the Civil Air Patrol, and when needed he flew search missions looking for downed aircraft along with his friend Orlan Scott, who passed away just a few days before David. In his later years, David was outside with his son-in-law, John, and saluted the Space Shuttle as it passed overhead.
David worked with his family in the construction business as his Mom, Ethel, said you can do anything you like but first you will learn your father's trade. That was sage advice as David's work provided everything his family needed all his life.
David never let any grass grow under his feet, as many considered him to be the hardest working son of a gun that ever lived, to a fault. David only really rested after a long day at work, when his kids would take off his work boots and hand him his daily beer (only one, mind you).
While in the building business, David had a great group of men he mentored over the years that went on to successful careers. Guadalupe (Lupe) and Roy Garza, and Jaime Flores, worked with David over the years and David's sons, Ricky, Larry, David Alan, worked with him over summers, or when they could. David was very frugal and built his home with his brothers' help using leftover building materials and hard-saved money. He never had a mortgage.
At one hospital addition, the team had completed a large concrete pour on the 6th floor of the building and were wrecking (removing) the wood-concrete forms. One of the forms just would not budge, so David, as he commonly would do, got in there and wrecked it free. Unfortunately, that 5' x 8' concrete form fell and hit David Alan (your author) in the head on the ground six floors below as he was operating a material hoist. Dad said, "I've kilt my boy", rushed down to find me awake but dazed after being knocked out by that form. Dad did a quick check, then gave me 50 cents and told me to go get a Coke and some aspirin, then get back to work. Mind you, we were at a working hospital. That was Dad's work ethic in a nutshell.
David's sister, Monte Belle, introduced him to Janice Guthrie, a widow with two children, Ricky and Larry. Well, love set in and they married on June 9, 1962. Three other children were born into this marriage, Dawn, David Alan, and Robert. Dad was accepted into Janice's in-law family, the Guthrie's, as one of their own. Mama Guthrie, especially, always looked after him and was always bringing him nice slacks from the factory she worked at. Many Thanksgivings and Christmas were spent at the Guthrie's.
Dad loved us kids and on Saturday mornings, he was either teaching us how to work on cars, changing the oil, or he was leading us on long bicycle rides all over Waco. Occasionally, he would show off by sitting on the handlebars and riding the bike backward.
Eventually, Dawn married Walter John Rusek, Jr. and John became the fifth son of David and they were there for each other from that point for the rest of David's life. As all the kids grew up and married, David was Grandfather to Mary, Kyle, Zach, Walt, Katy, and Cameron, and Great-Grandfather to Zach's son, Dean.
David and Jan never really had a chance to travel much, but David did get to set sail with David Alan while he served in the Navy, cruising from Norfolk, VA to Mayport, FL. I'll always get a chuckle from this memory as Dad got seasick in calm seas but could stomach aerobatics in an airplane with no problems.
If you can, please join us for a celebration of his life on Thursday, October 28, at 1:30 p.m. at OakCrest Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Sipe officiating, followed by burial at Rosenthal Cemetery. Prior to the service, there will be a visitation from 1 – 1:30 pm at OakCrest.
OakCrest Funeral Home, Waco, Texas
David A. Meier
May 27, 1929 – October 22, 2021,
Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2021, and then went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and God Almighty.
Raised during the Great Depression, David had a bone disease that affected his right leg, which required surgery by a specialist that chiseled out most of his femur. While in the hospital, he earned the moniker "Doc", which was used by family and friends throughout his life.
David was the youngest surviving son of Henry and Ethel Meier, with brothers Edward, Craven, Robert (Bob), John, and Gustav, all preceding him in death. Sisters, Monte Belle (Sis), Dorothy (Dotty), and Francis, all preceded him in death. Joyce (Meier) Altemore, is the last surviving sibling of David.
Growing up in the Depression, Dad worked in a Malt Shop where he made an errant batch of ice cream using only cream and not milk. His boss at the time hid his mistake and they both ate that batch of ice cream not telling anyone else. His love of ice cream and sweets stayed without him his entire life, sneaking into the kitchen to eat a bowl or two when no one was looking.
David loved airplanes and everything to do with them. At age 12 he worked part-time at Rich Field in Waco, cleaning and gassing planes, and bartered his labor for flying lessons. At age 16 he earned his Private License and flew general aviation aircraft for many years including an Aeronca Champ. He flew with the Civil Air Patrol, and when needed he flew search missions looking for downed aircraft along with his friend Orlan Scott, who passed away just a few days before David. In his later years, David was outside with his son-in-law, John, and saluted the Space Shuttle as it passed overhead.
David worked with his family in the construction business as his Mom, Ethel, said you can do anything you like but first you will learn your father's trade. That was sage advice as David's work provided everything his family needed all his life.
David never let any grass grow under his feet, as many considered him to be the hardest working son of a gun that ever lived, to a fault. David only really rested after a long day at work, when his kids would take off his work boots and hand him his daily beer (only one, mind you).
While in the building business, David had a great group of men he mentored over the years that went on to successful careers. Guadalupe (Lupe) and Roy Garza, and Jaime Flores, worked with David over the years and David's sons, Ricky, Larry, David Alan, worked with him over summers, or when they could. David was very frugal and built his home with his brothers' help using leftover building materials and hard-saved money. He never had a mortgage.
At one hospital addition, the team had completed a large concrete pour on the 6th floor of the building and were wrecking (removing) the wood-concrete forms. One of the forms just would not budge, so David, as he commonly would do, got in there and wrecked it free. Unfortunately, that 5' x 8' concrete form fell and hit David Alan (your author) in the head on the ground six floors below as he was operating a material hoist. Dad said, "I've kilt my boy", rushed down to find me awake but dazed after being knocked out by that form. Dad did a quick check, then gave me 50 cents and told me to go get a Coke and some aspirin, then get back to work. Mind you, we were at a working hospital. That was Dad's work ethic in a nutshell.
David's sister, Monte Belle, introduced him to Janice Guthrie, a widow with two children, Ricky and Larry. Well, love set in and they married on June 9, 1962. Three other children were born into this marriage, Dawn, David Alan, and Robert. Dad was accepted into Janice's in-law family, the Guthrie's, as one of their own. Mama Guthrie, especially, always looked after him and was always bringing him nice slacks from the factory she worked at. Many Thanksgivings and Christmas were spent at the Guthrie's.
Dad loved us kids and on Saturday mornings, he was either teaching us how to work on cars, changing the oil, or he was leading us on long bicycle rides all over Waco. Occasionally, he would show off by sitting on the handlebars and riding the bike backward.
Eventually, Dawn married Walter John Rusek, Jr. and John became the fifth son of David and they were there for each other from that point for the rest of David's life. As all the kids grew up and married, David was Grandfather to Mary, Kyle, Zach, Walt, Katy, and Cameron, and Great-Grandfather to Zach's son, Dean.
David and Jan never really had a chance to travel much, but David did get to set sail with David Alan while he served in the Navy, cruising from Norfolk, VA to Mayport, FL. I'll always get a chuckle from this memory as Dad got seasick in calm seas but could stomach aerobatics in an airplane with no problems.
If you can, please join us for a celebration of his life on Thursday, October 28, at 1:30 p.m. at OakCrest Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Sipe officiating, followed by burial at Rosenthal Cemetery. Prior to the service, there will be a visitation from 1 – 1:30 pm at OakCrest.
OakCrest Funeral Home, Waco, Texas
May 27, 1929 – October 22, 2021,
Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2021, and then went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and God Almighty.
Raised during the Great Depression, David had a bone disease that affected his right leg, which required surgery by a specialist that chiseled out most of his femur. While in the hospital, he earned the moniker "Doc", which was used by family and friends throughout his life.
David was the youngest surviving son of Henry and Ethel Meier, with brothers Edward, Craven, Robert (Bob), John, and Gustav, all preceding him in death. Sisters, Monte Belle (Sis), Dorothy (Dotty), and Francis, all preceded him in death. Joyce (Meier) Altemore, is the last surviving sibling of David.
Growing up in the Depression, Dad worked in a Malt Shop where he made an errant batch of ice cream using only cream and not milk. His boss at the time hid his mistake and they both ate that batch of ice cream not telling anyone else. His love of ice cream and sweets stayed without him his entire life, sneaking into the kitchen to eat a bowl or two when no one was looking.
David loved airplanes and everything to do with them. At age 12 he worked part-time at Rich Field in Waco, cleaning and gassing planes, and bartered his labor for flying lessons. At age 16 he earned his Private License and flew general aviation aircraft for many years including an Aeronca Champ. He flew with the Civil Air Patrol, and when needed he flew search missions looking for downed aircraft along with his friend Orlan Scott, who passed away just a few days before David. In his later years, David was outside with his son-in-law, John, and saluted the Space Shuttle as it passed overhead.
David worked with his family in the construction business as his Mom, Ethel, said you can do anything you like but first you will learn your father's trade. That was sage advice as David's work provided everything his family needed all his life.
David never let any grass grow under his feet, as many considered him to be the hardest working son of a gun that ever lived, to a fault. David only really rested after a long day at work, when his kids would take off his work boots and hand him his daily beer (only one, mind you).
While in the building business, David had a great group of men he mentored over the years that went on to successful careers. Guadalupe (Lupe) and Roy Garza, and Jaime Flores, worked with David over the years and David's sons, Ricky, Larry, David Alan, worked with him over summers, or when they could. David was very frugal and built his home with his brothers' help using leftover building materials and hard-saved money. He never had a mortgage.
At one hospital addition, the team had completed a large concrete pour on the 6th floor of the building and were wrecking (removing) the wood-concrete forms. One of the forms just would not budge, so David, as he commonly would do, got in there and wrecked it free. Unfortunately, that 5' x 8' concrete form fell and hit David Alan (your author) in the head on the ground six floors below as he was operating a material hoist. Dad said, "I've kilt my boy", rushed down to find me awake but dazed after being knocked out by that form. Dad did a quick check, then gave me 50 cents and told me to go get a Coke and some aspirin, then get back to work. Mind you, we were at a working hospital. That was Dad's work ethic in a nutshell.
David's sister, Monte Belle, introduced him to Janice Guthrie, a widow with two children, Ricky and Larry. Well, love set in and they married on June 9, 1962. Three other children were born into this marriage, Dawn, David Alan, and Robert. Dad was accepted into Janice's in-law family, the Guthrie's, as one of their own. Mama Guthrie, especially, always looked after him and was always bringing him nice slacks from the factory she worked at. Many Thanksgivings and Christmas were spent at the Guthrie's.
Dad loved us kids and on Saturday mornings, he was either teaching us how to work on cars, changing the oil, or he was leading us on long bicycle rides all over Waco. Occasionally, he would show off by sitting on the handlebars and riding the bike backward.
Eventually, Dawn married Walter John Rusek, Jr. and John became the fifth son of David and they were there for each other from that point for the rest of David's life. As all the kids grew up and married, David was Grandfather to Mary, Kyle, Zach, Walt, Katy, and Cameron, and Great-Grandfather to Zach's son, Dean.
David and Jan never really had a chance to travel much, but David did get to set sail with David Alan while he served in the Navy, cruising from Norfolk, VA to Mayport, FL. I'll always get a chuckle from this memory as Dad got seasick in calm seas but could stomach aerobatics in an airplane with no problems.
If you can, please join us for a celebration of his life on Thursday, October 28, at 1:30 p.m. at OakCrest Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Sipe officiating, followed by burial at Rosenthal Cemetery. Prior to the service, there will be a visitation from 1 – 1:30 pm at OakCrest.
OakCrest Funeral Home, Waco, Texas
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