Home » Past Obituaries » David Earl “Dave” McKinney

David Earl “Dave” McKinney

Funeral services for Mr. David Earl “Dave” McKinney will be 2:00 PM Friday, October 13, 2017, at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home with Bro. Donald Owens and his grandson, Pastor Evan Owens officiating.  Pallbearers: grandsons and great grandsons.  Interment will follow at Wilson County Memorial Gardens.  Visitation Thursday 4-8 PM and Friday after 12 Noon at Ligon & Bobo.

Mr. McKinney, age 95 of Lebanon passed away Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at Quality Care.

Born August 7, 1922, in Smith County, he is the son of the late Nat and Bessie McCall McKinney.  He graduated from Smith County High, class of 1940.  Dave began college at Cumberland University in the fall of 1940, while working at Lea Cleaners in Lebanon, a business he would later own.  He met the love of his life, Katherine Reed of Wilson County, while attending college.  He volunteered for the service in 1943 and married Katherine on April 2, 1943.  He left for the war three weeks after their marriage.  He served as a medic in New Guinea during the war.  Upon his return from the war, he began a career in the laundry and dry cleaning business.  He was a graduate of the National Institute of Dry Cleaning in Silver Springs, Maryland.  Dave worked in various dry cleaning and laundries as a manager until 1962, when he purchased Lea Cleaners in Lebanon.  He founded Sparkle Laundry and Cleaners in 1964.  He would eventually own six dry cleaners and laundries consolidating them into Sparkle Laundry.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Bro. Nat McKinney, Albert “Bud” McKinney, Bessie G. McKinney, Icie Lee Coker, and Sam B. McKinney.

Dave was very civic minded. He served as Governor of the Valley District of Civitan International in 1977-78.  He would serve as President of the Lebanon club, and in many capacities in the state organization during his lifetime.

He was a devout Christian and a Baptist. He served as a deacon and trustee of Immanuel Baptist Church for many years. He taught the Amen Sunday School class for many years at Immanuel.

Dave and Katherine loved to travel, having visited Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and most of the states. He loved his wife and children above all else.

He is survived by his wife of seventy four years, Katherine Reed McKinney; four children, David Reed McKinney, Dr. Roger McKinney, Carl Ray (Barbara) McKinney, and Mary McKinney (David) Owens; seven grandchildren, Jennifer McKinney (Kaz) Hashimura, Matthew David (April) McKinney, Joshua Medlin McKinney, Gabriel Isaac (Jennifer) McKinney, Joel David (Erin) Owens, Evan Ray (Megan) Owens, and Sarah Kate McKinney; eleven great grandchildren, Emilyn Hashimura, Erika Hashimura, Annabella McKinney, Jacob McKinney, Ian McKinney, Liam McKinney, Aidan McKinney, Colbie Owens, Rhett Owens, Logan McKinney and Caroline McKinney.

The family would like to say “Special Thanks” to the nurses and techs at Quality Care, who gave special care to Dave, too many names to mention, but all loved for their efforts.

“A life well loved, is a life well lived.”

LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME of Lebanon (615)444-2142   www.ligonbobo.com

Messages for the Family

  1. Wanda Stoner says:
    What a precious man, I will always remember how much he loved and how he treated my grandmother “MaMo”. He was such a kind man and loved the Lord with all his heart. Prayers for the family
  2. Richard McKinney says:
    I am so sorry Uncle Dave has passed. He was such a good man, whom I will remember by his smile. Love to all of you.
  3. Kenneth E. Dunn says:
    Very sorry for the loss of your father,Roger. I just today learned this sad news.