Mould

As a lilting tune wends its way upward drifting over the hills, so passes the soul of David William Mould. He was the son of Shirley M. Mould and the late Dr. Richard E. Mould. His life began at Butler Memorial Hospital on May 27, 1950, and ended Monday, May 13, 2024, following a brief illness. Because of his generosity, Dave chose to donate his body to CORE, the Center for Organ Recovery and Education, gifting his corneas to two individuals on the transplant waitlist.

Friends from his 1968 graduating class at Butler Senior High School remember Dave as a musician above all other attributes. His love of music and his skill on the violin made him a talented member of his school orchestra, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 5 Orchestra and the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, where he played as a professional musician. Highly intelligent, Dave went on to attend Carnegie Mellon University. Upon leaving the university, he made his way westward to the streets of San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego, where he often could be found playing with small bands, sometimes in clubs and sometimes on street corners. He was never happier than when he could make music with others.

Dave had the soul of a musician, the heart of an artist and a brain that was always seeking to research the world and all it held. He would latch on to an idea and then spend countless hours finding out everything he could about the subject and all it meant. You only had to present him the basics and he found the intricate patterns to explain the universe. David and his father would play what is called blindfold chess (“pawn to King 4”), a complete game of chess in their minds, using an advanced understanding of chess strategies and positions. As for his artistry, his pen and ink drawings were delicate and masterful at the same time. A few strokes could convey an entire landscape.

Dave held many jobs over his lifetime but was never defined by them. He was known for being very conscientious to the point of working long extra hours without pay because he wanted to see the job completed to his standards.

The family cherishing his memory are his mother, Shirley Mould; brother, S. Bruce (Patricia) Mould; sister, Susan (Daniel) Morrow; niece, Laurie (John) O’Rourke; nephews, Joshua Mould, David Morrow, Nathan Mould and Jesse Mould; and five great-nephews and nieces.

Preceding him in death were his father, Richard Mould; and nephew, William Morrow.

Though his song has faded away, we continue to hear it playing gently in our hearts.

MOULD — The family of David William Mould, who died Monday, May 13, 2024, will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

Funeral arrangements were handled by THOMAS M. SMITH FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 930 Center Ave., Blawnox, Pa.

Memorial donations may be given in David’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.