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David L. Gilchrist

David L. Gilchrist, 81, of Largo, FL, passed away on September 19, 2016, at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in Bay Pines, FL. Although born in Detroit, MI in 1935, his parents moved into a newly built home in Warren, Michigan around 1938. He would live in that home for most of his life; having bought it from his parents (after they retired and moved to Seminole, Florida) in the late 1960’s and started his own family in the same house he grew up in.

After he graduated from high school in 1953, Dave spent two years working at Chrysler MOPAR in Warren, Michigan. He then enlisted into the US Army and served his country in the mid 1950’s. Stationed in Alaska, he played hockey for the Army league.

Following his time in the US Army, he worked as a steel worker for almost 30 years at Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, which later became LTV Steel in the early 1980’s. During his time with LTV Steel, was transferred to their plant in Cleveland, Ohio in 1983 and commuted back and forth from Cleveland to Detroit for almost 4 years. He retired from General Dynamics Land Systems Division in Sterling Heights, MI in 1998 where he had worked for 11 years as the Fire Marshal. Even during retirement, he worked part time for over 10 years at American Icon Auto Paint & Supplies in Pinellas Park, FL delivering paint to auto dealerships throughout Pinellas County, Florida.

During his free time, he was a member of various hockey, softball and bowling leagues in the Detroit area through the years. Upon relocating to Florida, he played in an over 55 softball and hockey league for about a year. An avid sports fan, Dave enjoyed watching mainly hockey and football games (started a father/son tradition of going to the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game for several consecutive years with his son, David); but would catch the occasional baseball and/or basketball game from time to time, especially if a Detroit team was playing.

He loved music and dancing and would whistle, sing and/or dance to the beat when he heard a song he liked on the radio. Every weekend he and his wife would go dancing at local Detroit area clubs.  Exercise was important to him: Always lifted weights and walked a couple miles consistently up until a few years ago.

He really enjoyed vacationing around the Tampa Bay/Gulf Beaches area through the years with his family and eventually made it a permanent vacation when he moved with his wife and son to Largo, Florida in 2000. He was a member of American Legion Post #273 in Madeira Beach, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Jemima Gilchrist and his brother, John M. Gilchrist.  He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dottie; his son David; and many friends.

He will be interred at Sarasota National Cemetery with full military honors at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

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