David Jonathan Clevenger Obituary
David Jonathan Clevenger, 76, of San Mateo passed away Friday, March 29, 2024 at his home following an extended illness. He was born in Harlen County, Cumberland, Kentucky, the son of Buck and Lena Clevenger. One of Dave's often repeated family stories is how he was born at home on the kitchen table. Dave never knew his father as he passed before he was born. They moved to the farm in Holden, MO after Lena married Joe Raker. Dave had lived in Putnam County since 1981 coming from Holden Missouri. Dave served two tours in Vietnam returning home in 1969. He had several jobs before starting his career including working for KCBI as a private investigator. Dave began his long career in building cooling towers with Marley Cooling Towers out of Kansas City, Missouri. While traveling place to place building cooling towers, he ended up in Palatka, FL building the towers at Seminole Electric Power Plant in 1981 where he met and married the love of his life. He continued to travel the Southeast area as he continued to rise in his various positions. He helped construct 7 cooling towers in his career and did numerous maintenance and repair jobs. He held the jobs of quality control, safety manager, job foreman, job supervisor, Southeast area manager and in his later years as a company consultant. In his position as safety manager in 2004, he received the Safety Excellence Award for working 1 million man hours without an OSHA recordable. During his career he built coal-fired, nuclear, and solar cooling towers and was very proud of his work.
In his leisure time, Dave enjoyed fishing and being in the outdoors working in the garden until his health prevented it. He enjoyed his role as a father, always striving to make it home to watch his kid's activities and soccer games. He loved being a Grampy and had fun as Santa for the children at St. James Independent Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jane Atkinson and her husband Gene, and a brother, Buck Clevenger and wife Carol.
Dave is survived by his wife Amy Clevenger, a daughter, Megan Register (Gary), sons, David Clevenger (Yolanda), William Clevenger (Elizabeth Hahn), four beautiful grandchildren, Sophie and Emily Register, and James and Teddy Clevenger, sisters, Venessa Pottie (John), and Jolene Ziekle, a brother, Joe Raker, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be held Friday April 19, 2024 at St. James Independent Methodist Church with Pastor John Schafer officiating. The U.S. Army will also conduct military honors. The family will receive friends Friday April 19th from 10:00 am until the time of services at 11:00.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to Residing Hope (formerly Florida Methodist Children's Home), 51 Children's Way, Enterprise, FL 32725.
