David L. Spalding

Obituary for David Lee Spalding Generous, kind, and loyal are just a few words used to describe David Lee Spalding, who left us on March 4, 2026. A lifelong resident of Argentine, Kansas, David was an avid sports fan and a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He leaves behind a legacy of service, friendship, and a bit of orneriness. David was born in 1946. After the 1951 flood, his parents, Gene and Nadine, purchased their home in Argentine where he and his two brothers, Gene and Eddie, grew up. Around the age of five, David contracted polio and was hospitalized. For a time, his right arm and left leg were paralyzed. Thankfully, he eventually recovered, allowing him to fully explore his mischievous side. David and his big brother Gene, whom he often called “the best big brother ever,” were known to roughhouse and prank one another. Never one to be outdone, David once sneaked into the bathroom and tossed the family cat on Gene while showering. His rowdy spirit followed him into adulthood. He married his first wife, Ella, and together they were blessed with their beautiful daughter, Lynn Marie. David said the marriage didn’t last because he was “too wild.” David loved sports, including the Chiefs and the Royals, but his deepest loyalty was to the Kansas Jayhawks. He was able to be there for the game against Cincinnati a few weeks ago. He also was able to see a game at the new David Booth Kansas Memorial football stadium this past fall. Believing he might enjoy gambling, while always wanting the odds in his favor, he did what he thought was the sensible thing: he became a part-time bookie, running parlay cards for college and professional football. David enjoyed the lifestyle and did well financially, even though gambling was illegal in Wyandotte County (though rarely enforced at the time). As with many adventures, however, this one eventually came to an end. When the FBI arrived in Kansas City to investigate Mafia activity, they accidentally uncovered some of David’s runners. David was indicted and prosecuted. Refusing to implicate anyone else in his gambling activities, he was only fined and placed on probation for five years. His record was eventually expunged. Professionally, David was a proud Teamster. In 1985 he moved into management, working at Consolidated Freightways for 37 years and later at Con-Way for another 12 years. In 1976, David married Janice Shaw, a divorced mother of five. Together they raised her incredible children: Bill, Daniel, Becky, Scott, and Mark. While he was a beloved husband and stepfather, he struggled with alcohol addiction. On December 13, 1977, David had his last drink and joined Alcoholics Anonymous, which he later described as “one of the best things I’ve done in my life.” He served in many roles within the organization and sponsored numerous people over the years. Jan joined Al-Anon, and David credited her and the program just as much as AA for his sobriety. Together they traveled to meetings, sharing their stories and supporting others. Sadly, Janice passed away in 1997. David married Pamela Vaccaro Rank. Once again, he became a stepfather to her daughters, Phyllis (“Phyll”) and Allison (“Ali”). David loved Pam’s intelligence and their shared interest in community and political issues. Their family also included their feisty Yorkie dog, Ladybug. David lost his beloved Pam just three weeks before his own passing, on February 11, 2026. They were married 28 years. While he had been battling health issues, his daughters think he died of a broken heart. History was one of Dave’s great passions. One of his favorite vacations was a trip with his brother Gene and his stepson Bill, during which they visited eight Civil War battlefields across four states in five days. He also maintained a strong interest in politics throughout his life. David’s love of sports led him to collect memorabilia for more than 30 years. Among his prized pieces were autographed photos of Wilt Chamberlain, Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams. One of his favorites was a photograph of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle standing at home plate with their bats, signed by both and titled “Changing of the Guard.” He also owned a six-foot-long photograph featuring members of the 3,000-hit club, signed by every living member at the time. Yet David found even greater joy in giving the pieces of his collection to family members in the months leading up to his passing. It excited him to share those treasures and leave a piece of himself with the people he loved. David was a member of the Potawatomi tribe through his grandmother, Hattie Prudence. He was fond of saying, “He who sees the white buffalo will listen to the happy hunting grounds.” The white buffalo symbolized hope and renewal. David hoped to find himself in those happy hunting grounds, reunited with three lifelong friends: Dr. Joh (“Dr. Z”) Zwadyk (70 years of friendship), Harold “Budd” Norton (60 years), and Chuck “Daddy Wags” Wagner (60 years). He also looked forward to reuniting with those who preceded him in death, including his brothers Gene and Eddie, his parents, and his former wives, Janice & Pamela. David is survived by his children: Lynn Marie Spalding; Bill Shaw (Liz); Becky Shaw; Scott Shaw (Holly); Mark Shaw; Phyllis Melendez (Jose); and Allison Rank Dummermuth (Derek). He also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Brooke, Danny, Tiffany, Kaitlyn, Rachel, Alexis, Shea, Lui, Evie, and Theo and ten great-grandchildren: Kaci, Robert, Parker, Conner, Charlie, Mallory, Elliott, Remington, Analiz, and Lui. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, JoAnn “Charlie” Spalding, and his nephews Gene Spalding (Andrea) of Woodbury, Minnesota, and David Spalding (who holds his name) of Des Moines, Iowa. David wished to express his appreciation for the many friends who stood beside him throughout his life, including Jade Howard, CNA; Bette and Smokey McGill; Bob and Sandy Cheney; TJ Reardon; Joe Miller; Joe Santoyo; Linda Pendleton; and Marti Owens. He held a special place in his heart for his grandson, Jordan Shaw, a nurse practitioner at KU Medical Center. The two shared a love of barbecue, sports talk and attending games together. Jordan also helped David manage his medications and coordinate with his healthcare team during his final years. In his final days, David was surrounded by the family who loved him and cared for him. His passing was quick and very peaceful. If you knew David, you probably shared a laugh with him, talked sports, heard one of his stories, or received a piece of wisdom earned the hard way. He lived fully, loved fiercely, and never lost his sense of humor. His family takes comfort knowing he is reunited with those who went before him and that somewhere, David is still telling stories and keeping score. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Cigar Lounge in Strawberry Hill (407 N. 6th St., Kansas City, Kansas) from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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David L. Spalding

May 23, 1946 - March 4, 2026