CAMPBELL HILL - Gerald Dale David, 75, passed away at 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, October 2, 2011, at home surrounded by his loved ones. He fought a valiant battle against scleroderma, an autoimmune disease, in the last year of his life. He was born on December 25, 1935, in Campbell Hill to Thurman and Della David. He married Darlene Priebe on June 1, 1957, in Campbell Hill. Survivors include his wife, Darlene David, of Campbell Hill; two daughters, Donna Mueller and Lisa David, both of Carbondale, IL; aunt Esther Plinovich of Hebron, IN; aunt Edna Kothe of Steeleville, IL; brother-in-law Leonard Priebe of Shiloh Hill, IL; sister-in-law June Priebe of Danvers, IL; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father and mother; his sisters-in-law Lois Bollmann and Evelyn Priebe; his brothers-in-law Herbert Bollmann and Eugene Priebe; and nephew, Terry Priebe. Gerald proudly served in the U.S. Army (702nd Armed Infantry Division) from March 24, 1955 to March 22, 1957. He was a member of the UMWA Local 1392. In 1997, he retired from surface coal mining after 31 years and enjoyed every minute of his retirement, declaring that "every day was a holiday." Gerald loved being outdoors, yard work, caring for his collection of cactus plants, traveling, and baseball (especially his beloved Chicago Cubs). He had an amazing knack for remembering friends' birthdates. He traveled to 46 U.S. states and visited many national parks along the way. He hiked the Grand Canyon five times. One of his happiest moments came in 2005 when he played baseball on Abner Doubleday Field at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, with Ozzie Smith, George Brett, and his Cubbie hero, Ryne Sandberg. He turned double plays with all three Hall of Famers and was proud to back-up the nine-time Gold Glove winner Sandberg when a ground ball skipped over the top of Sandberg's glove. He was even prouder of the fact that he never made an error during the two hours of playing with those baseball greats. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Church--West Point, Campbell Hill, where he was a member. Reverend Tim B. Zechiel will be officiating. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Campbell Hill. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at Wilson Funeral Home in Ava, IL. Memorials may be made to the Calvary Cemetery Fund or the Immanuel Lutheran Church Roof Fund. Arrangements are under the auspices of Wilson's Funeral Home, Ava.