David Acklin.

 

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of former Guns Save Life director David Acklin who died at his home Monday morning, October 22.

Mr. Acklin was a staunch supporter of civil rights and a true patriot.  He gave freely of his time an expertise to benefit firearm rights.

He was one of the nation’s finest Garand and M1A/M14 gunsmiths in the nation.

We’ll post details on funeral arrangements as they become available.

For now, this is the listing at the News-Gazette.

 

David posing at the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial which he thought highly of, in part because of the outstanding detail in the sculpture.

 

 

UPDATE:

From News-Gazette

CHAMPAIGN – Celebration of life services for David A. Acklin, 69, of Champaign will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home, 201 N. Elm St., Champaign.

Deacon Bob Ulrich will officiate. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Urbana.

Visitation will be one hour before the services at the funeral home.

Mr. Acklin passed away at 7:55 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at his home.

He was born Oct. 4, 1943, in Champaign, a son of Elton V. and Marie K. (Gross) Acklin. They preceded him in death.

He was also preceded in death by his son, Alexander Acklin; an infant sister, Nancy Jean Acklin; and a brother, James T. Acklin, Lt. Col., USAF.

Mr. Acklin is survived by a daughter, Nanette Acklin of Mumbai, India; a brother, Richard J. Acklin and wife Chrissie, of Mount Vernon; two sisters, Rosemary Gibbs of Murphysboro and Judy Thrower of Tolono; a sister-in-law, Rose Acklin, of Granger, Ind.; six nieces and five nephews.

Before his retirement, Mr. Acklin was employed as an insurance and automotive sales representative. He served in the U.S. Army and was discharged as a Cpl E-4.

He was a former director of the Champaign County Rifle Association and Guns Save Lives Association, as well as a Benefactor Member of the NRA. He was a member of Holy Cross Church and St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Champaign.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Carle Pediatric Unit in memory of David and Alexander Acklin.

Condolences may be offered online at www.HeathandVaughn.com.