Donald Raymond McIlvain

Donald Raymond McIlvain, 94, died on October 23, 2024, in Mount Pleasant, SC. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 69 years, Martha (nee Ford), and is survived by his son Brad, daughter-in-law Maura, and grandchildren Matthew and Laura. 

Born in Philadelphia to John and Caroline McIlvain, Mr. McIlvain attended Haverford High School where he met Martha Ford, his future wife. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952 with a BS in Chemical Engineering and, upon graduation, began his engineering career at Catalytic, Inc., a Philadelphia based engineering and construction company. He and Martha married in April of 1954 and their son, Brad, was born in 1959. That same year, Mr. McIlvain received his MS from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. McIlvain worked at Catalytic and its parent Air Product and Chemicals, Inc. until 1985, rising to the level of Vice President of Administration at Catalytic. While at Air Products, Mr. McIlvain pursued advanced studies in Operations Research at Lehigh University in the 1970’s. In 1977, Mr. McIlvain graduated from the Kenan Flagler School of Executive Management at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. In 1985, Mr. McIlvain joined Pathfinder, Inc., a Cherry Hill, NJ international project management consulting firm, where he became Sr. Vice President. In 2012, at the age of 81, Mr. McIlvain retired from Pathfinder.

Upon his transfer from Charlotte in 1981, Donald and Martha made their home in center city Philadelphia. There they enjoyed the involvement with family as their son completed his law degree, got married and had children of his own. Donald and Martha served on the board of the Matinee Musical Club of Philadelphia, and both became involved with her alma mater, West Chester University, in a variety of ways including establishing an endowed scholarship and chairing West Chester’s first Capital campaign. In 2004 Martha and Donald each received the WCU President’s Medallion for Service, and in 2012 each was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service by West Chester. Their educational philanthropy contributed to several WCU programs and facilities and additional scholarships at the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and Georgetown University.

In 2019, Donald and Martha relocated to Mt. Pleasant, SC, to be near their son and daughter-in-law who retired to Kiawah Island, SC. Donald and Martha loved traveling especially their 61 cruises. Mr. McIlvain was a talented bridge player, but his life-long hobby was music, especially big bands of the 40’s and 50’s. Starting in high school, he played sax and clarinet, and began dance band arranging. In 1965, Mr. McIlvain joined the then forming “Moonlighters” big band as a sax player and arranger. The band enjoyed an enthusiastic following in the Philadelphia suburbs through the early 2000’s. Donald continued to arrange music for the “Moonlighters” and others until shortly before his death.

His Funeral Service will be held Monday, November 18, 2024 in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends an hour before the service in the chapel. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.