David Gordon McClellan, 73, of Waco passed away June 23, 2017 in Tyler, Texas. Funeral services will be 2 PM, Thursday, June 29, 2017 in the Coolidge Cemetery Chapel with Rev. Jake Wade officiating. Interment will follow in the Coolidge Cemetery with Don McClellan, Nathan McClellan, Natalie Tillison, David Brogdon, Gregory Ruiz and Ian Merritt serving as pallbearers. Visitation with the family will be prior to the service, from 1-2 p.m. David was born September 18, 1943 in Waco, Texas to Gordon White and Nell Barbara Chandler McClellan. After graduating from Waco High School, he attended Temple Junior College. David proudly served his country, during the Vietnam War, in the US Air Force. He retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety, after over 25 years of service as Dispatcher Supervisor. Whether it was his work or his hobbies, he loved what he did and did it well. An outdoorsman, David was a patient fisherman as well as an expert archer. A motorcycle enthusiast, he frequently rode with a group of friends. He also enjoyed going to the Margaritaville Casino in Louisiana, slalom and water ski, barefoot. His most special hobby, and the one in which he took the greatest pride, was in building his control model airplanes with meticulous detail and exact instrumentation. He then flew them in competition. A control line plane is different from a radio controlled model airplanes. The operator of a control line plane holds two hand lines that can be manipulated to maneuver the plane to perform acrobatics and tricks of flying. In the control line plane competition, David took first place in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. He closely followed all things aeronautic. He also hand built, with expert care, an ultra light airplane and flew it around central Texas. The plane was featured in a magazine article, detailed to the tee. He was very proud of this accomplishment. David possessed an appreciation of time and of timepieces. Everywhere you looked in his house, his collection of watches and clocks was visible. David expressly enjoyed being surrounded by family, friends, co-workers and his beloved kitty cats. He also reveled in the Texas Ranger baseball season, Dallas Cowboy football and the Baylor Bears. He looked forward to every Texas Ranger game, even got the nursing home to get the Rangers’ station for him. He was also a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Waco. He was a patient, caring man who was always willing to help others. He believed in having a good time and making people laugh. One of his fondest memories was riding his father’s horse, Tony, with his brother on his grandfather’s farm. He was preceded in death by his parents. David is survived by his brother, Don McClellan of Tyler; nephew, Nathan McClellan of Tyler; and niece of Natalie Tillison of Tyler.