David E. O'Donnell

Dave was born on February 13, 1945 in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was the fourth of nine children born to Clyde and Louise O’Donnell. As the consummate middle child, Dave looked up to his older siblings and served as a role model for his younger ones. His character and virtues were shaped by his childhood upbringing, which instilled in him independence, creativity, self-belief, and a deep love and loyalty to his family. The stories of Dave and his brothers are legendary. From a young age, he believed in his ability to accomplish just about anything with his hands. He was never deterred by setbacks.

Dave graduated from Boca Ciega High School in 1964. During high school, Dave met the love of his life, Phyllis, at the Presbyterian Youth Camp, where they both worked. Their shared service at summer camp forged many friendships and solidified their bond. Phyllis was a country girl, and Dave a city boy—a match made in heaven. Dave quickly became an adopted member of her family. Married in 1965, Dave and Phyllis enjoyed a love that flourished over 59 years. Together, they navigated the challenges of Army life, a deployment to Vietnam, combat injuries, the joys of children and grandchildren, and the sorrow of losing close friends and family members.

Dave enlisted in the Army in 1965 as a member of the Special Forces, motivated by his brother Fred’s service. In 1967, he was selected for Officer Candidate School, where he graduated and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as a company commander in the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, deploying them to Vietnam. He was wounded in combat in March 1968, and awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for bravery. In 2019, he was honored as a Distinguished Member of the historic 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Dave’s military service spanned 23 years as an Infantry and Special Forces officer and he retired in 1988 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Dave was a creator and a builder. While his remarkable outputs defined him, his skills spanned far and wide. He loved working with engines, a passion he shared with his brothers, and had an uncanny ability to disassemble and repair anything on his own schedule. His talents extended far beyond mechanics—he sewed his own tennis shorts, strung tennis rackets, baked, and even created gold leaf artwork of the iconic 1st Cavalry Division. After moving out of government housing, Dave tackled home improvement projects with ease, from tiling to flooring. If ever in a bind, a phone call to his equally talented brothers made for a formidable team of problem-solvers and doers.

After retiring from the Army, Dave continued to serve as a government contractor for nearly 25 years. He cherished being around service members and formed lasting friendships with colleagues at CENTCOM and beyond. While this post-Army work was fulfilling, his true passions always lay with his family.

Dave was an extraordinary father to Mark (born in 1968) and Kelley (born in 1974). He exhibited boundless patience and delighted in participating in outdoor activities with his family. Dave was “all in” on every project, homework assignment, or endeavor. He often served as their coach, always making time to throw a ball, shoot hoops, play tennis, or even take on the role of a soccer goalkeeper—drawing on the single year he played goalie at the Command and General Staff College in 1979 as the basis for a lifetime of advice! His unwavering devotion extended to his grandchildren—Nicholas, Abigael, Julia, and Lauren. Though he left most sporting activities to others, Dave remained deeply involved in their lives, always ready to give his time and energy to support them in any way they needed.

Dave had no enemies. He valued people from all walks of life and cherished their individuality. His friendships stood the test of time, and his impact on others was profound. To fully capture Dave’s essence would require the perspectives of countless individuals. Much like a kaleidoscope, his life was a vibrant mosaic of beautiful, ever-changing moments. Nearly everyone who knew Dave has their own story about him—each one positive and deeply impactful.

Dave graduated from the University of Tampa and later earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Louise O’Donnell, and his brothers, Danny and Fred.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Phyllis; his son, Mark, and daughter-in-law, Lauren, along with their children, Nicholas and Abigael; and his daughter, Kelley, with her children, Julia and Lauren. He is also survived by his siblings: Roberta O’Donnell, Clyde O’Donnell (Linda), Judy Holmes, Patty Belcher (Lance), Jim O’Donnell (Corrine), Diane O’Donnell (Tim), and Paul O’Donnell.

A Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at Merritt Funeral Home (2 South Lemon Avenue, Brooksville, FL 34601) where Funeral Services begin at 12:00 p.m. A Graveside Service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Spring Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Dave O’Donnell’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Donations can be made online at the following link:

https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html#:~:text=Jude%20memorial%20fund%20page.,(800)%20213%2D6584