David N "Mac" McCorkle

David Neil “Mac” McCorkle, 81, of Newton, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home on March 9, 2026.

Mac was born on May 24, 1944, in Palo Alto, California, to Neil and Marie McCorkle. As a young boy, his family relocated to Grants Pass, Oregon, where he spent much of his childhood. Following high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War era.

During his military service, Mac worked in aircraft maintenance on B-52 bombers supporting operations overseas during the Vietnam War. Following his overseas tour of duty, he was stationed at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base in Clinton, Oklahoma.

While stationed there, Mac met Joan Erlene Flowers on a blind date. At the time, Joan was a junior at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma. After completing his military service, Mac attended Tulsa Aeronautical School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he earned his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification. Joan graduated from Southwestern State College and accepted a teaching position in Owensville, Missouri. Mac followed Joan to Owensville, where he began working for Skyway Aviation in Rolla, Missouri, performing maintenance on mail delivery aircraft.

Mac and Joan were married on June 27, 1970 in Joan’s hometown of McLean, Texas, and began their life together in Owensville, Missouri. Their first son, Wayman, was born in 1972.

In 1973, Mac accepted a position with Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. After Joan completed her teaching contract, she and Wayman moved to Newton, Kansas, where Mac had purchased a home on Southwest 7th Street. Their second son, David, was born in 1975.

In 1977, the family moved to the country in Harvey County, Kansas, where Mac and Joan built a life together and made their home for nearly fifty years. Mac devoted his career to aviation maintenance, working for Beech Aircraft and later Raytheon Aircraft until his retirement in 2014.

Never one to sit still, Mac also established Dave’s Aircraft Maintenance at Newton Airport. Through his business, he provided maintenance and fueling services for aircraft being ferried overseas. His operation became a family endeavor and earned him the respect of pilots, mechanics, and customers, alike. Mac was known as an exceptional aircraft mechanic whose knowledge, skill, and work ethic were second to none.

Mac loved simple pleasures. Having grown up in Oregon’s logging country, he enjoyed cutting and splitting wood and appreciated hard work and the outdoors. He also enjoyed sharing a cold beer with family and friends.

Mac was a long-time member of the First Christian Church Disciples on Christ in Newton, Kansas.

Family members fondly remember Mac’s habit of bringing home flowers for Joan and for her mother, Vera. It wasn’t unusual for him to arrive with a bouquet in hand, simply because he wanted them to know they were loved. Those flowers became one of the many ways he showed affection – not through grand words, but through thoughtful acts of kindness that never went unnoticed.

Those who knew Mac will remember his quiet strength, honesty, dependability, and big heart. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He had a good sense of humor and was full of surprises. Much to the amusement of his family, they later discovered that this talented aircraft mechanic was also quite the roller skater.

Mac was preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Marie McCorkle; and his daughter-in-law, Melissa May McCorkle.

He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Joan McCorkle; his sons, Wayman McCorkle and wife Melinda Slaughter, and David McCorkle and wife Stephanie McCorkle; his grandchildren, Colby McCorkle, Kylee O’Donnell and husband Kale, and Sydney McCorkle; his sister, Rose Marie Darcy of Oregon; his nephews, Daniel Darcy and David Darcy; as well as extended family members and many friends.

A Celebration of Life, officiated by Rev. Kevin Bayless of Leon, Kansas, will be held in October at the home of Joan McCorkle with family and friends attending. In keeping with Mac’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Memorial donations may be designated to Good Shepherd Hospice and left in care of Petersen Family Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St., Newton, Kansas 67114.

Mac leaves behind a legacy of service, hard work, kindness, and devotion to family. Whether he was maintaining and aircraft, splitting firewood, tending to the people he loved, or spending time with family and friends, he lived life with quiet determination and a generous heart. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.