David Eugene DeVol

Dave was born in 1938 in San Diego, California, to George and Bernice DeVol (nee Given). Raised in Point Loma, he graduated from Point Loma High School before earning a degree in 1959 from San Diego State College (now San Diego State University), where he was elected president of both his freshman and junior classes. It was during freshman orientation he his met Kay Troutman, his beloved wife of 64 years.

Dave loved to tell stories of his childhood adventures in Point Loma and Ocean Beach, where there were few houses and expansive land, the perfect playground for misadventure. Growing up, he worked the scoreboard at Lane Field, served at the Kona Kai Club, as well as parked cars in downtown San Diego.

In 1954 as a 16-year-old, Dave unexpectedly checked out the first book at the newly opened San Diego Library. When the San Diego Central Library opened in 2013, Dave was honored to again check out the first book.

Dave proudly served his country in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as an Armor Crewman, maneuvering tanks and receiving awards for his marksmanship. He also served as a reserve member of the Army National Guard of California, receiving commendation for his service preserving lives during the 1965 Watts Riots.

An active member of Theta Chi Fraternity, pledging the Gamma Theta Chapter in 1956, he tirelessly served his Fraternity, proudly holding a multitude of positions, and ultimately International President. In 2013, he was bestowed with the esteemed title of “The Grand Old Man of Theta Chi.” Dave was a trusted advisor, friend, and mentor to thousands of Theta Chi brothers.

Following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps as career bankers, he began in a management training program at Union Bank in Los Angeles, then served in executive management at Great American First Savings Bank, and its predecessor San Diego Federal Savings & Loan, was the founder, president and chief executive officer of Rancho Bernardo Savings Bank, and founder and president of Silvergate Thrift and Loan. Dave obtained graduate banking degrees at the University of Virginia and Indiana University.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dave was deeply engaged in his community, serving on the boards of the San Diego County Capital Asset Leasing Corporation, the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego, and the Challenge Center. He was a long-term member of the University Club of San Diego, and the Rotary Clubs of San Diego and La Mesa. An avid supporter of SDSU, he held positions of president of the SDSU Alumni Association, and of the SDSU Athletic Foundation. The DeVol Family were long-standing members of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego and were married in its chapel in 1959.

A fitness enthusiast since high school, he maintained a regimen of jogging 3 miles every other day. He also enjoyed skiing (Mammoth Mountain was his favorite), was a fast-pitch softball pitcher, and was a lifelong Padres fan, dating back to their early days in the Pacific Coast League.

A dedicated train aficionado, Dave helped found the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, California. He traveled the country visiting train museums, steam engines, railroad lines, and always made it a point to stop along Highway 395 to view one of the last remaining narrow-gauge railway trellises from the Carson and Colorado Railway. After visiting as a young boy, he became a lifelong student of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, built in the 19th Century to serve the Comstock Lode mining communities in Nevada, and acquired an extensive library of the V&T along the way. Dave proudly participated in the 1975-76 American Freedom Train to commemorate the United States Bicentennial.

Dave loved his family more than anything, and was a dedicated and proud husband, father, and grandfather. The family enjoyed many vacations and trips together, loved watching sports and movies, and rarely missed the longstanding “Fam Dinner” on Sundays.

David Eugene DeVol is survived by his cherished wife Kay, their children Mark (Sherry), Dana, and Susan (Elle), and grandsons David and Charles. The DeVol Family would like to acknowledge and thank those who cared for Dad so lovingly, to include Diana Linney, and Nadia, Lilibeth, Mellany, Lizzie, Agnes and Mary, and the entire staff at Torrey Pines Senior Living.

All services to be held at Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, California.

Donations can be made to his beloved Theta Chi Fraternity, Carmel, Indiana, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, Nevada, or to Lions, Tigers & Bears Animal Sanctuary and Rescue, Alpine, California.