I met Dave early in my career as a psychologist.  He was always a wise and trusted advisor colleague friend.  May our memories of him provide some ongoing pleasure for his family.

He was a true friend, I think of him often. He got me through some pretty rough times, that's what thought of me look him up. So sorry he passed.

I worked with Dave for about 12 years at Genesis Psychology Associates. Dave always generously shared his knowledge, which was considerable, and his time.  He was deeply committed to his patients and improving the delivery of mental health services in the Quad Cities. He is missed.

While my mom Rita was an excellent teacher, my dad taught me just as much.  By watching him I learned how to work hard, be honest, and treat everyone with respect.  Our many trips to Iowa City to watch a Hawkeye game taught me to love sports.  While I never made it to Eagle Scout like him, our many outdoor adventures taught me to love camping and fishing.  

Not every lesson went the way he planned.  Dad also taught me how to get a truck stuck in the mud, how not to cut down a tree safely, and how to start a brush fire.  I owe many of you an apology for using up all of his patience through my stupid mistakes.  They were always followed by three things – a stern lecture, a big bear hug, and a promise he would always be there for me no matter what.  His greatest lesson was the importance of family and his love for us built bonds that I treasure more than anything else. 

I will always wish I had one more rack of Jim's ribs or one more night relaxing in front of the TV with my dad.  While those experiences are gone forever, he leaves behind four successful children and five amazing grandchildren that will never forget him or his stories.  He also leaves behind many friends that have been a part of his life longer than the 42 years I have been alive.  He created a successful psychology practice with his partners that helped many people and is still thriving today.  He gave me and others so much more than we could hope to repay, but I promise I will never stop trying to be more like him and the person he showed me I could be.

I want to thank everyone that shared their memories of Dave with us.  Dad always honored his patient's confidentiality and rarely discussed his work with us, so it is easy to miss how much he meant to the community and his co-workers.  


I was fortunate to get to know Doc through Family Wellness Court which was a specialty court we have here in Scott County created assist individuals with substance abuse issues kick their drug habits for the benefit of their children. Doc was an invaluable asset on the Family Wellness Team. Through that interaction I got to know Doc and considered him a friend. We had dinner and lunch together several times and I truly enjoyed his company. I was saddened by the news of his passing and my wife and I's thoughts  are with his family. Hardly a week goes by in my current job where I do not reflect on something he told me when I am making a decision.  He will be dearly missed.- Mark Fowler

Dave once said to me offhandedly, "You know 'Star Wars', The Force, that's all just thinly-veiled Buddhism." Like a grain of sand, the line lodged in my brain, initially irritating me. Star Wars? Religious? Pffft. At the time, I was angry at the universe and no longer believing in anything. Rita had passed away and my dad followed her less than 2 months later. And not only did we lose them, we had to bear witness to their extended suffering first. What god could do something like that to them? To us? Then in 2017, John and I packed our house to go West. Dave was downsizing his library and encouraged us to come and take whatever books we wanted. To a bibliophile like me, that was offering a fat kid the keys to the candy store, and he knew it. I couldn't help myself. With his encouragement, I took bags and bags of his books. John wasn't happy, but Dave was surely pleased to have laden our moving truck with 33 boxes of books. Among those: an ancient, dog-eared paperback of "The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha". I read it as we embarked on our journey to Washington, and you know what? That grain of sand he'd put in my head years back was still there but it started to change, to smooth, to no longer irritate me. I saw the connection between The Force and the Universal Consciousness. "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." Before I knew it, the sand became a pearl, and the pearl became something I thought I'd lost forever: faith. That faith has sustained me through some very dark times and it continues to grow. So today, as I ring the brass bell in my little shrine, the bell that once sat on a table in Dave and Rita's entryway, I see them together in The Force, watching over their children until the time that we join them, and I feel peace.

I am saddened by the news that Dave has moved on to the next engagement.  We were close during the time that I lived in the Quad-cities area and spent a great deal of time creating memories that included poker games, auctions, and at times carousing.  (I still use the family recipe for margaritas) Dave will be missed and please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss.  I will continue to cherish the memories that I have.

Doug and I have fond memories of Dave from our School Psychology days through our work together at Psychology Associates. He and Rita were great and we hold their families in our thoughts 

To the children of Dave . I am so sorry to hear of the death of your Dad.  It was my dream to be a therapist at your Dad's practice and I enjoyed the many years that I worked with him. My best memories were spending time together at the Iowa football games with him and Rita. I will miss them both.

Monica Clark

2021 is the fifty year anniversary of my relationship with Dave. I have known him as a student, a colleague, a coworker, a partner and most importantly as a dear friend. We have shared wonderful times with our families with many high points and also some difficult and trying times.  Dave was always there, always supportive and displayed qualities that I came to cherish. He was a man of his word, always reliable, dependable and loyal. He was committed to his values and stood tall whenever life tested him.
  
As a partner I could not have asked for more. We shared a commitment to improve the quality and availability of mental health services in the community. We shared goals to assist those less fortunate or abused, other community agencies, law enforcement and the criminal justice system. He never lost the vision and he was a tireless worker to achieve these goals.

I have many wonderful memories and I consider it a major blessing to have shared so much with Dave.

I first met Dave while interviewing for a job at Genesis Psychology Associates in late 2001. He welcomed me into the practice and helped facilitate my obtaining licensure in Iowa. I was fortunate to work with Dave until he retired from Genesis and maintained periodic contact with him up until this past year. Dave was generous with his time and knowledge, and highly respected in the professional community. I am saddened to learn of his death and know he will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and ex-clients.  Dave was very dedicated to his profession and had a huge zest for life.

I met Dave after I moved to Iowa to practice psychology.  His work in IPA and federal advocacy involved me in IPA and lead to my acceptance of the federal advocacy role in IPA and eventually leadership in the organization.  He was always warm supportive and encouraging.
His gifts to Iowa and our patients included tireless advocacy for mental health parity and broader insurance coverage for mental health.  His family should know that his work went well beyond his own patients.

Dave McEchron warmly welcomed me to the professional psychology community in Iowa. He offered advice, friendship and took time to help me land a job in Davenport when I was an unlicensed psychologist from Illinois. I will always smile when I remember that his voice mail reminded callers to slow down, not speed up when leaving our names and phone numbers. 

Dr. McEchron's contributions to his clients, fellow psychologists and the development of professional psychology in the Quad Cities and Iowa certainly live on. Warmest sympathy to his family  

There are no words that can be said
To convey our feelings and our thoughts,
How can you express this kind of sorrow
How do you deal with such a painful loss?

Starting right after graduate school
Seems like we merged our young careers,
From testing and research at the AEA
To professional psychology for many years.

Our families stayed close to one another
Though soon from Iowa we had moved away,
Staying in touch with frequent visits
Talking on the phone both night and day.

So many memories that we created
Nearly fifty years of things we’d done,
Talked like young men even as we grew old
Together we always created non-stop fun.

Don’t think we ever wanted to acknowledge
That the end was slowly starting to appear, 
A time with no jokes and long political conversations
Or if the Hawkeyes might be the champs this year.

And though missing him is now hard and painful
Completely gone from us Dave will never be,
Cause Dr. W. David McEchron will always be here
Each time we all share another precious memory.

So, thank you Lord for giving us David
Thank you for this most wonderful friend,
Keep him well now that he is back with Rita
Until the time we too are with them again.

Bob and Janice Arnio, Rapid City, SD 


I knew Dave as a friend and consultant for thirty years. He was perfectly suited by temperment to a career in the “helping” professions. I imagine he helped thousands over his career and in one case I’m aware of, likely thwarted a suicide. 
Dave was proud of spending a couple of early summers as a Kansas cowboy, and of his achievement in becoming an Eagle Scout. I’ll remember our occasional breakfasts and lunches fondly. He brought Kansas common sense to his profession and to life itself. I’ll miss him very much.

David was a very generous and caring mentor for me during graduate school. He truly helped me to learn how to be a psychologist, not just the book knowledge but the skills to be an effective clinical psychologist. I truly appreciated his friendship throughout my career. He will be missed.

Dave was the first real psychologist that I ever met, back when I was a starry eyed undergrad psychology student in 1974. He was funny, charming and encouraging (and quite handsome!).  I went on to grad school, marriage and career; eventually I launched into private practice in Dick and Dave’s office.  Again he was supportive and generous with professional guidance.  We remained friends after we had  both retired—a 45 year connection. I will miss his laugh, his kindness, his cooking, his teasing and his stories. Rest In Peace, friend.

OBITUARY

W. David McEchron

September 25, 1943 – March 22, 2021

Weerts Funeral Home

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