Donald David “Dave” Erwin graduated this life at 84 years young in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on July 1st 2026 under the outstanding care of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. He entered this life on May 24th, 1942, in Powhatan Arkansas in the Eaton Township. He was the eldest of six children, born to Rudolph David and Bessie Ola McLeod Erwin.
He graduated Lynn High School in 1960, attended the Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville Tennessee and later graduated from Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge. He was ordained at a young age into the ministry. Donald honorably served his country in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam War. He served overseas in the Philippines, as well as stateside and aboard ship. He later served as a pastor in Kentucky and Tennessee. He worked as an Emergency Medical Technician in Lawrence County and as the medical officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in repair of the Mississippi River.
Dave was married to Ola Mae Leach from Mountain Grove Missouri whom he met in college in Nashville. They were joined together for fifty-five years before her passing in 2023.
He loved the outdoors, reading, great conversation, researching, singing, studying the Bible and honoring the Lord. He loved helping others and making people laugh.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Bessie, his wife, Ola Mae, one brother, Dr. Ronald Erwin, two sisters, Helen Erwin Powell and Ellen Erwin.
Those left to celebrate his life are his son, David (Mira) Erwin; brothers: Tony (Mary) Erwin and Robert Erwin. Two grandsons: Jason Erwin and Mickey Erwin and one granddaughter: Sonya (Murphy) Danahy. And numerous nieces, nephews, cousin, neighbors and friends.
Services will be held at the House-Gregg Lynn location on Saturday, 11 July 2026, at 2:00 pm with words of love shared by his son David. Private burial will be at Old Lebanon Cemetery. House-Gregg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
For lasting memories, please consider donating in memory of Donald Erwin to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in lieu of flowers. https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html