David Edward Trunnelle

David Edward Trunnelle was born April 20, 1959, in Pasadena, Texas, to Charles and Ann Trunnelle. He was born 8 minutes before his identical twin brother and was the oldest of five children. As the child of an Air Force veteran, David and his family lived in Texas, Maine, and Florida, before settling in Redlands, CA in 1971. They were an active family, attending church, commiting to academics, engaging in sports and attending games and practices. Every year, they traveled to Texas and Iowa to visit extended family, where all of the cousins would play together. David loved playing baseball and basketball, and especially excelled in math, science, and social studies. He attended Cope Middle School and graduated from Redlands High School in 1977. He then attended and graduated from California Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1981 with a Bachelors of Science degree in electrical engineering. While living in La Verne, he met his wife, Theresa McLemore. They married in 1986 and started a family in Rowland Heights, eventually settling in Glendora. They had two daughters together, Karene and Julia. David was a proud father, often accompanying the girls on field trips, leading youth GATE programs, and attending career and parent day events. He was supportive of the girls’ musical gifts and was an assistant coach for youth league softball. David had a successful career as a project manager in the petroleum refining industry, specializing in pipeline development where he worked with multiple companies including Arco, Marmac, Jacobs Engineering, British Petroleum, Conoco-Phillips, Sun Engineering, and EDK Engineering. His work took him all over the United States, but he especially enjoyed his professional accomplishments in North and South Dakota, Washington, the Permian Basin, Eagle Fort Shale and the greater LA-basin. 

David had a passion for spending time with friends, family, and especially making memories with his girls. The family annually traveled to Maui and Kauai, enjoying beach walks, swimming, hiking, favorite restaurants, and exploring Hawaiian culture. He loved taking family trips to Disneyland and Raging Waters over summer breaks. The forever-athlete in David kept him attending baseball and basketball games throughout his life. He enjoyed playing golf and did it as often as possible. For many years, David was an active runner. He found great peace and motivation in his morning and evening runs, especially when he was in Maui. Mornings and evenings always involved reading the newspaper or working on a puzzle. Next to his children, his heart was so full of love for his family’s pets: Moco, Bear, Louis, Cece, Luna, Cassie, Ivan, and Hans. He was especially proud of his two granddaughters, his ‘Beanie Baby’ and ‘El Birdy’, which brought him immense happiness towards the end of his life. His love of math, numbers, and history continued into his later years and he enjoyed spending time following economic trends, politics, and current events. 

David was a kind soul, often shy until he felt comfortable. By nature he was someone who felt compelled to help others when in need, and often before any of his own needs. He loved helping his friends, his neighbors, his children, and especially his late mother Ann, whom he cared for during the last 6 years of her life. David always had the ability to make others laugh. He’d often send silly notes or say funny things to others which sometimes had meaning that required familiarity with his sense of humor for translation. He touched so many lives with his love and his life.

David passed peacefully in his home in Yucaipa, CA on Friday, August 2nd, 2024, at age 65.

He is survived by his two daughters, Karene and Julia, siblings Donald, Gordon, Susan, and Glenn, and his beloved grandchildren, Sabine and Eloise. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in David’s name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at https://www.breakthrought1d.org/.