David Alan Swallow

Dave was a serious, hard-working, genuine and intelligent man, yet he was always ready with quick-witted, playful teasing of his friends, family, and colleagues. He was a loving husband to his wife, Dianne McKinney, and proud father of Thomas Swallow (Summer), Elizabeth Opalka (Doug) and Natalie Swallow. He was “Pop” to grandchildren Derek and Allison Swallow; Beau, Luke and Will Opalka. Dave was the devoted son of Edwin and Violet (Hancock) Swallow; and brother of Karen Kissel (Steve), Diane Kindt (Dave) and Jim Swallow (Theresa); and uncle to seven nieces and nephews.

Dave will be greatly missed by his heartbroken family.

Dave’s three children with former wife Toni Crancer, are blessed with two loving parents. Throughout their upbringing, you could find Dave coaching sports teams, attending swim meets in bright orange shorts, going to soccer tournaments and listening proudly at band concerts to support and cheer on his children. He made sure that his kids were ready for life with astute financial discipline; and before getting their driver’s licenses, Dave ensured that they all knew how to check tire pressure, car fluids, and drive a stick shift.

Dave was an avid golfer. He and Dianne enjoyed playing golf with friends and taking annual trips to Cabo San Lucas for 13 years of vacations filled with golf outings. Dave began working out with weights daily over 50 years ago, long before it was “cool”. He loved his vintage Corvettes, Dodge RAM pickup truck, politics and doing miscellaneous projects around his and Dianne’s house. Reverend Jim Jackson married Dave and Dianne in an intimate, private ceremony at Chapelwood United Methodist Church on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Dianne describes Dave as her “Sting look-a-like” and the love of her life who was sent to her by God to Chapelwood, where they met early one Sunday morning after church. They became best friends almost immediately and shared daily bantering, teasing, debating and laughter for almost 15 years. Even throughout Dave’s illness, he managed to tease and make Dianne laugh out loud at least once per day. One of Dave and Dianne’s earlier dates was The Police Reunion Tour in St. Louis in 2008. It was Dave’s first rock concert. At the end of multiple encores performed by Sting, Dave said “This Sting guy is pretty good.” Yes, Dave was an engineer through and through.

Pop and Di loved taking their grandchildren to Klein High School football games followed by sleepovers at their house, where much fun and spoiling took place.

A proud alumnus of the University of Missouri, with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Dave remained a faithful Mizzou football and basketball fan through the years. His Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers remember him warmly as “Lurch”, nicknamed for his recognizable deep voice and part-time high school job working for Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary in St. Louis. Dave also earned an MBA from St. Louis University.

Determined to forge his own professional path, Dave was a successful entrepreneur, and nearly 20 years ago, founded ChemOrganics, a specialty chemical manufacturing company. He served as President of ChemOrganics where he worked brilliantly and enjoyably with Sachin Tipnis and Tom Swallow, Dave’s son. In ChemOrganics, Dave leaves a lasting family legacy.

Dave’s chemical industry expertise was recognized and respected nationwide through his active participation in various organizations, including years of service on the SOCMA Board of Governors and on the University of Missouri Chemical Engineering Department’s Advisory Board.

Dave’s family expresses gratitude for the skilled and compassionate care of his doctors, nurses and technicians at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Methodist Hospital, The Kidney Institute and Dialyspa.

Dave was a brave and fearless fighter, living a full life that ended too soon. We will all miss him dearly.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Dave during a reception to be held from six until eight o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 7th of June, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 8th of June, in the chapel of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street in Houston, where Pastor Scott Endress is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Garden Room.

At a later date, the family will gather for a private inurnment at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.