David Charles Meacham

David Charles Meacham—a gentleman contrarian, devoted father, loving husband, and warm and funny human being—died on October 30, 2025, at age 88 years and 55 days. A goal-setter until the end, he became the longest-lived Meacham in his family line, surpassing his beloved older brother Robert Meacham’s record (88 years, 19 days), and claiming a well-deserved place in Meacham family history.

Born in 1937 to Esther and Jared Meacham, Dave was the youngest of five boys (Jerry, Richard, Robert, and Larry.) Despite joking that his class rank was “below zero,” he graduated from Columbus, Ohio’s North High School in 1954, and later served in the U.S. Army. Working by night as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad, he attended classes at The Ohio State University during the day and graduated with his B.S. in Business Administration in 1967. He married Ruth Ann Duemey in 1958, and they had two children, David Christopher (1961-1974) and Rebecca Anne (1970-), settling in Newark, Ohio when Dave became a cost accountant with Owens Corning Fiberglass.

Dave’s sense of duty made him a brilliant but unconventional corporate leader, sometimes devising budget plans that would eliminate his own position. Though he dreamed of being a philosophy professor, he worked for Owens Corning his entire career, holding positions in Anderson, South Carolina, and Toledo, Ohio, before retiring as Operating Division Controller in 1992. At every opportunity, both professionally and personally, he was dedicated to building people up, giving them chances to show their best efforts, and making sure others (particularly those in power) saw their value.

At age 55, he retired to his “heaven on earth” on the shores of Bull Shoals Lake in the Missouri Ozarks, with Kay Massee Meacham, whom he married in 1994. There, he named the trees after his favorite thinkers and gods, read (and graded) books by literary greats, walked the land with Kay and their two little dogs and cat, and began an exercise regimen that he logged on an IBM DOS computer. His fitness routines were the stuff of legend. Notably, on every birthday, Dave would do 10,000 pushups and sit-ups, plus the number of his age, until he turned 86. His cardiologists credit this regimen with powering his heart through multiple health events and into odds-defying recoveries.

His heart was also powered by the people in his life, especially family. In the Ozarks, and in their current home in Marion, North Carolina, Dave and Kay’s paradise became the site of hot competition and sprawling conversation with generations of Meachams and Massees. He was widely generous, creating a Meacham family mini-grant to support post-high school education and donating his cars to people in need. For 20 years, the elementary school scholarship he established in honor of his late son, rewarded— in his words— “not the best student, but the student who tries.” He could be sharply critical about the state of the world, but he held out hope for people’s success.

Dave’s work ethic and gallows humor shaped his daughter, Becca, who always could count on her father to be there for her as protector, guide, and comedic relief. Endlessly proud of son-in-law Chuck Rybak, Dave and Kay were the first on the scene for the births of both of his granddaughters, Gwendolyn and Madelyn Rybak, who adored his “throw up” games and playful, poking spirit. He was also a beloved uncle to Taylor and Sterling Smith, and loved trading jokes with Kay’s sister and brother-in-law, Sara and Dan Smith. Dave was both a thoughtful host and an obnoxious winner, marching around the game table as he sang the Ohio State fight song. He always invited people in—to everyday conversations, political debates, silly bets, games of horseshoes; he always asked how the people he loved were doing, with genuine interest. And he truly wanted none of the attention for himself.

In fact, David Charles Meacham did not want an obituary. But gentlemen contrarians don’t always get the final word. In his honor, we must recognize the good work of people who try their best, and to celebrate their efforts. And so, we recognize and celebrate the life of David Charles Meacham, because he showed us how.