David "Dave' Gilmore

IN MEMORY OF: David (Dave) Gilmore Serving Location: CRAIN PLEASANT GROVE-MURDALE FUNERAL HOME 31 Memorial Drive, Murphysboro, Illinois David "Dave" Gilmore, age 84, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at his home in Murphysboro. He was born on September 4, 1940 to Sherman Edward and Margaret Jane (Biddle) Gilmore in Athens, Ohio. David married Jane Williams on January 22, 1999 and she survives. They would have celebrated their 25th anniversary in 3 days. David taught Cinema and Photography for over 30 years at SIU in Carbondale. He also served as Department Chair during his time there. David was an “all or nothing” kind of guy. When he became interested in something or immersed in a project, he was “all in” as evidenced by the many motorcycles he and Jane purchased and enjoyed touring around the country. He was well known by whippet breeders for many years as he toured most of the eastern half of the U.S. racing his dogs, living with them each weekend in a van he converted for the cause. And then there were his many years of bowling, during which he was awarded with several “300” perfect game awards. But he didn’t just bowl, he studied the lane oil patterns, he researched how drilling balls in different manners would impact their rotations, he purchased and experimented with different composites. And lets not forget his years of competitive archery where he researched different compound bows, becoming friends with some of the designers of the bows, and studying the different models and modifying some himself. Then came an era of fascination with pinball games after Jane gifted him a used one for their Christmas together. David’s family was not wealthy by any means when he was young and he had never played pinball because he never had a nickel to spare as a child. But he was instantly smitten at the age of 54. He began to research the top rated pinball games of all times, he tracked them down all over the U.S., played them and then purchased ones he thought were worthy of rehab and restoration, if needed. He read hundreds of pages of pinball theory and design. He joined chat groups, he taught himself to track the miles of wiring in each machine and to perform maintenance and repairs. A chance meeting of an SIU student whose father actually produced artwork for some of the pinball games David by now owned led to him becoming acquainted and friends with some of the top designers, artists and producers of games in the United States. He actually was instrumental in putting together a then record-breaking attendance gallery exhibit of The Art of Pinball at the Mitchell Museum in Mount Vernon. Every bocce ball player at the Murphysboro Courts seems to know that if not for David designing, creating and donating laser instruments for scoring in the game, the courts would still be determining questionable balls by using tape measures or strings. (In his wife’s opinion, the only downside of such addictive behavior was that he never divested himself of any of his collections when he turned his attention to a new interest, thus making their home seem like a museum in itself.) Throughout all these years of engagement in new and different projects, David’s love of animals meant that 47 feral cats were trapped, neutered or spayed and if not adopted, were maintained on their own acreage for over 20 years. From racing whippets his fascination eventually turned to greyhounds in later years and he and Jane rescued many retiring track greyhounds and showed them the joys of couches, pillows and beds. Along with his wife, David leaves behind a brother-in-law, Ted (Kim) Williams, his daughter, Coni Nutter; grandson, David Hattan; sister, Carolyn Gilmore; nephew Kent (Dia) Knudson; and great-niece, Kali Knudson. Besides these family members left to honor his memory, are literally hundreds of former students who have maintained ties with David, some for more than 50 years. Many of these students continue to visit when they return to the area and while David has always contended he learned as much from them as he taught, many have, through the years, thanked him for the impact he made in their lives and in some cases, their careers. David, at the time of his passing, was in the last stages of collaborating with one such former student (Carl Corey) who is now a successful professional photographer. Carl has been instrumental in both encouraging David to bring a collection of his photos together in a book and in guiding him through the process. Many of David’s former students are eagerly awaiting the publication of this book that is very near to completion and will be a lasting testament to David’s profession. David was preceded in death by his parents and by twin infants who did not survive childbirth. Cremation rites will be accorded. No services will be held. While the family in no way expects any memorial contributions and requests no flowers, please; for those compelled to honor David’s life, contributions may be made to the David Gilmore Scholarship fund at SIU that was established upon David’s retirement in 2000 or, in honor of his love of his whippets, greyhounds and cats through the years, donations may be made to St. Francis Care shelter in Murphysboro. The cremation of David "Dave" Gilmore will be personally handled by the staff of Crain Funeral Home. Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

David "Dave' Gilmore

September 4, 1940 - January 19, 2025