David Eugene Gatlin

David Eugene Gatlin, 82, of Pflugerville, TX was called away into the presence of the Lord on February 12, 2017 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Graveside Service: 11:00 am on Friday, March 3rd at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery on 11463 TX-195 in Killeen TX, 76542, officiated by Pastor Karen of Georgetown, TX. He will be buried with full military honors. Arrangements entrusted to the direction of Lake Shore Funeral Home of Waco, TX.

David was born in 1934 in Tulsa, Ok to Raymond Bates Gatlin and Jennie Lee Sebastian. After joining the navy in 1951, he met the love of his life and married Dorothy Louise Wieweck, to whom he was happily married for 61 years. He spent the next 20 years proudly serving his country as a signalman and chief petty officer. He loved the ocean and enjoyed taking family to the beaches on long weekends while stationed in Long Beach, CA. He also enjoyed the mountains of Washington State where his kids have fond memories of teaching Dad to ski.
After retirement from the military, he opened his own sprinkler, supply, company in Fountain Valley California. After a period of self- employment, he moved on to long, haul, driving which he did for over 25 years with KKW Trucking. He also had a tendency to shower his family with stories from his travels and grandkids with gifts he bought while on the road much to the chagrin of their Mom.
After leaving behind the trucking business, he decided on a new course for his family and uprooted from the Golden State to make the move to The Lone Star State. It was in Pflugerville, TX he put down new roots. During this time of semi-retirement, he found a new sense of fulfillment working with U-Haul where he was referred to as “The Mechanic” because he had the knack for getting all of the trucks ready to go out on schedule.

During his younger years, he enjoyed coaching Little League Football with his son’s team, where his daughters were cheerleaders. He was truly a child at heart and found great joy in mountain climbing with his family, visits to Disneyland and riding minibikes with his kids in the desert. David was an avid lover of war movies as well as watching old cartoons. He was particularly fond of Tom & Jerry and The Roadrunner, which he could watch over and over, always with the same childlike delight. He was known for loving animals, especially his dogs, who were often found in his lap. David had also had a major sweet tooth, especially after a good meal of Bar-be-que, which he was known to love.

On March 24, 2014, David accepted Christ as his personal savior as his family had prayed would happen for years. During the last days of his life, his daughter Dianne, with his wife Dorothy by his side, baptized him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Raymond Gatlin of Lincoln City, Oregon.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Gatlin of Pflugerville, Texas; three children: Debbie Winterscheid and husband Jerry of Claremore, Oklahoma, David Gatlin and wife Diana of Moreno Valley, California, and Dianne Gatlin of Pflugerville, Texas; eleven grandchildren, Jenny, Julie, Jeremy, Josh, Amanda, Nick, Bonnie, Dori, Ray, Candice, and Sara. He is also survived by numerous great grandchildren as well as a great, great, grandchild. He is also survived by his only sister, Linda Lee Crow-Hughes of Tulsa, Oklahoma and surviving sister-in-law, Bonnie Gatlin of Lincoln City, Oregon.

The family wishes to give thanks to Homestead Nursing and Rehabilitation of Hillsboro, Texas and their wonderful staff.

Dad, we will miss you. Rest in peace until we meet again.

Contact Information:

Place of Service: Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery , 11463 State Highway 195; Killeen, TX 76542-4945