David Raymond Mead

TWIN FALLS | David Raymond Mead passed away peacefully on his 86th birthday with his family by his side. Dave was born on June 9, 1930 in Indianapolis, Indiana where he spent his entire childhood. He was preceded in death by his parents Raymond & Margaret Mead and his sister Alison. His passion and love for the outdoors and the west started as a young camper and counselor at Acorn Farm Camp near his hometown, Camp Manatu in Canada and working on his Uncle & Aunt's farm in Southern Indiana.

After exploring the west with various summer jobs and adventure excursions, Dave graduated from Purdue University in 1952 with a BS degree in Agriculture. While attending Purdue, he met the love of his life, the beautiful and talented Martha (Marty) Phillips. He was the President of his Sigma Chi Fraternity Chapter and started his Navy career with the ROTC.

Soon after he left Purdue, he was accepted into Officer's Candidate School in Newport, RI. Upon graduation, he and Marty were married, and within 6 months was headed for sea duty in the Pacific near the end of the Korean War. After his 10 month tour of duty, the growing family spent the next 3 years at various Naval bases throughout the U.S. while Marty attended to their babies. Upon retirement from active duty, Dave earned his Masters in Science of Range Management from Utah State University, which in turn led to a job opportunity with Utah Mortgage Loan in Twin Falls in late 1957. Dave spent the next 33 years as a loan officer with Utah Mortgage Loan, Fidelity National Bank, Idaho First National Bank and retired from West One Bank, which is now US Bank. Dave and Marty owned a farm west of Twin Falls where Dave spent many a weekend lending a hand to their longtime friend and farming partner, Roger Vincent. In addition he served on the Board of Directors of Adventure 16 - a chain of outdoor stores in So California once owned by his brother Mitchell (Mic) and now run by his son John D. Dave remained in the U.S. Naval Reserves for nearly 40 years and retired as a captain.

Dave's passion for his Community, State and Country earned several honors including:

Times-News: "A Most Influential person" in 1975.

Idaho Statesman: Portrait of a Distinguished Citizen in 1976.

Forest Service 75th anniversary award for significant contributions to Forestry Conservation.

Lifetime Achievement award by the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce in 1999.

Inducted into the Purdue ROTC Hall of Fame in 2005.

Rotary's Honorary Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Civic Involvement included:

Appointed by the Governor for the Idaho State Board of Health & Welfare and served as chairman for 4 years.

Appointed by the Governor to Idaho's Clean Air Small Business Board.

Dilettante Group of the Magic Valley. Founding member, President, Business Manager, Treasurer, Actor and Stage Hand.

Chairman of the 1968 design committee of the Twin Falls urban renewal project, Idaho's first nationally funded downtown urban renewal project.

Founding Board Member and President of Canyon Inc; a citizens organization formed to study, encourage and support the orderly development and preservation of the canyon lands in the Magic Valley.

Twin Falls City Canyon Rim Land Use committee member and various other leadership positions related to the conservation of the Snake River Canyon.

Active in Tri County Canyon Group.

Involvement with the Old Towne Corporation & The Brigade which created the Rock Creek Canyon Parkway/Trail.

Chairman, Twin Falls Planning & Zoning Commission & Vice Chairman of Canyon Advisory Board.

Vice Chairman of the Twin Falls Parks and Recreation Commission.

Treasurer, Civic Auditorium Association, Inc. A group founded to form the vision, planning and to raise major funding for the Twin Falls Civic Auditorium, which was built and later donated to the College of Southern Idaho.

Chairman of Twin Falls Public Library Trustees

A Founder and President of the Twin Falls Public Library Foundation.

Served on the National Committee, and was the Founder and Chairman of both the Idaho Chapter and Magic Valley Region Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

Founding member of Twin Falls Tree Commission.

Community Concert Association of Magic Valley, Board of Directors.

Active in the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce and received their Distinguished Service Award.

President of Hillcrest Improvement and Protection Assoc.

Served as a Director of the Snake River Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Chairman of the Eagle Scout Board of Review.

Frequent speaker at Veteran's Day, Memorial Day and other military ceremonies.

Junior Achievement Board Member.

County Agricultural Extensions advisory council.

Appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to advise the Forest Service on planning and management policy.

Founding Director and 1st president of Sawtooth Forest Cabin Owners Assoc.

Involved in leadership of the National Forest Homeowners Association.

Founder and Board Member of Southern Idaho Land Trust Incorporated.

Republican Party Region 4 chairman and other statewide chairmanships and committees, and Delegate to several state conventions.

Trustee and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church.

Devoted longtime active member of Kiwanis.

Dave also served on countless committees and worthy causes throughout his life, while finding the time to enjoy mountaineering, backpacking, hiking, birding and the family cabin in the Sawtooths, as well as farming, gardening, Toast Masters, Vexillology (Study of flags) and family heritage.

Dave is survived by his wife Martha P. Mead, brother Mitchell (Mic) Mead, 6 children Margaret (Peggy) A. Boelk (Rich), Jane E. Hemingway, John D. Mead (Cindy Davis), Phillip G. Mead (Kris Muldoon), Rebecca C. Pierce, Mitchell F. Mead II (Susie Barker). 10 Grandchildren: Christopher & Matthew Gerdin, Rebecca Cohn, Brook Biggerstaff, Jordan & Spencer Mead, Halsway & Lindsay Pierce, Ashtyn & Hannah Mead. 7 Great Grand Children: Tallie, Reece & Nash Cohn, Olivia & Carter Biggerstaff, Bridger & Crosby Mead.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Twin Falls Public Library Foundation and/or the First Presbyterian Church of Twin Falls.

Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Twin Falls on Monday June 13th at 1:30 pm with reception immediately following. Graveside services at Sunset Memorial park.

Arrangements under the direction of White Mortuary and Crematory, Twin Falls, ID.