David James Mccandless
March 16, 1942 — October 1, 2013
David J. McCandless
David James McCandless, age 71 of Mercersburg, PA died unexpectedly Tuesday evening October 1, 2013 in his home.
Born March 16, 1942 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late James L. and Vernetta (Dimmick) McCandless. He married Karen C. (Campbell) McCandless on November 27, 1965 in Bethlehem.
David was band director and music teacher at Greencastle- Antrim High School from 1964 – 1983. He was then employed as a substitute music teacher in schools in Hedgesville West Virginia and Washington County, Maryland. He also taught private instrumental music lessons.
David directed orchestras for community theatre groups, served as director of the Hagerstown New Horizons Band and Greencastle’s Old Home Week Pageant Band.
He was a 1960 graduate of Liberty High School, received his BS degree in 1964 from West Chester University and his master’s degree also from West Chester in 1972. He did additional graduate work at the Peabody Conservatory and Morehead State University in Kentucky. He was a member of National Association of Music Education (MENC) and Mount Pisgah Masonic Lodge #443 F. & A.M. of Greencastle.
Surviving family in addition to his wife are children Jennifer S. McCandless, Laura K. Light and husband Matt, daughter-in-law Cherie McCandless, five grandchildren, Connor, Brendan, Alyssa, Emma, Eddie, step-mother, Esther McCandless and brother Gary L. McCandless
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Edward R. McCandless.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday October 5 at 1:00 PM from the Harold M. Zimmerman And Son Funeral Home 45 S. Carlisle St. Greencastle, PA with Pastor Richard Overcash officiating. Burial will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery Greencastle. There will be no public viewing but the family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 12 noon – 1:00 P.M. The family requests the omission of flowers with memorial contributions be given in his memory to Cystic Fibrosis 6931 Arlington Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814 or to the New Horizons Band C/O Ken Mowen 7849 Oak Dr. Waynesboro, PA 17268. Online condolences to the family may be given at www.zimmermanfh.com