New Horizons Band - Hagerstown
David J. McCandless, 71
David J. McCandless, 71
David James McCandless, 71, of Mercersburg, Pa., died unexpectedly Tuesday evening, Oct. 1, 2013, at his home.
Born March 16, 1942, in Bethlehem, Pa., he was the son of the late James L. and Vernetta (Dimmick) McCandless. He married Karen C. (Campbell) McCandless on Nov. 27, 1965, in Bethlehem.
David was band director and music teacher at Greencastle-Antrim High School from 1964 to 1983. He was then employed as a substitute music teacher in schools in Hedgesville, W.Va., and Washington County, Md. He also taught private instrumental music lessons.
David directed orchestras for community theater groups, served as director of the Hagerstown New Horizons Band and Greencastle’s Old Home Week Pageant Band.
He was a 1960 graduate of Liberty High School, received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1964 from West Chester University and his master’s degree also from West Chester in 1972. He did additional graduate work at the Peabody Conservatory and Morehead State University in Kentucky.
He was a member of National Association of Music Education and Mount Pisgah Masonic Lodge 443 Free & Accepted Masons of Greencastle.
Surviving family, in addition to his wife, include children, Jennifer S. McCandless, Laura K. Light and husband, Matt; daughter-in-law, Cherie McCandless; five grandchildren, Connor, Brendan, Alyssa, Emma and Eddie; stepmother, Esther McCandless, and brother, Gary L. McCandless.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Edward R. McCandless.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. at the Harold M. Zimmerman And Son Funeral Home, 45 S. Carlisle St., Greencastle, Pa., with Pastor Richard Overcash officiating. Burial will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery Greencastle.
There will be no public viewing, but the family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m.
The family requests the omission of flowers, with memorial contributions given in his memory to Cystic Fibrosis, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814; or to the New Horizons Band, c/o Ken Mowen, 7849 Oak Drive, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
Online condolences to the family may be given at www.zimmermanfh.com.
