David Stephens

David Fletcher Stephens was born December 17, 1941 to Albert and Cora (Findley) Stephens of the Banner Springs community. His life began right across the street from where it ended – his favorite place, Banner Springs Court. He grew up as the sixth of nine children and often shared memories of his childhood experiences with his children and grandchildren – shooting marbles in the yard, playing cowboys and indians, and even putting out his brother’s eye with a slingshot.

Like many of his generation, David was no stranger to hard work from a young age. He spoke frequently of walking to work at Baxter Wilson’s dairy farm before and after school – often in an “uphill both ways” fashion. While at school, he built fires in the furnace in exchange for his meals. When his father became too ill to work his job with the county, David took his place so that their family could continue to earn a paycheck, even though he was just a child and too young to work. 

As a teenager and young adult, David’s life took him many places around the country. From the orange groves of Florida to a cardboard factory in Chicago, and then from West Point, New York to Fort Knox, Kentucky while serving in the U.S. Army. As the old saying goes, though, all roads lead home. David eventually made it back to Banner Springs Court, where he settled with his wife, Linda, daughter Karen, and sons David and Jamie in 1974. Shortly after, he began his lifelong career in the construction industry, from which he retired in the early 2000s. After retirement, you could often find him in one of his many gardens, on the porch, or riding the golf cart with his most favorite people–his grandbabies. 

David is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda (Gooding) Stephens, daughter Karen Tipton, sons David Stephens and wife Maria and Jamie Stephens and wife Teckla, and sister, Doris Stephens. His children blessed him with nine grandchildren – Jeremy Jones, Kendra Tipton, Tyler Stephens, Keli Starr, Keri Adkins, Coby Stephens, Petey Stephens, Grayson Stephens, and Addison Stephens. They have added fourteen great-grandchildren – Tate, Jace, and Easton Jones; Kaden Sutton, Case and Cora Grace Mackie; Summer, Salem, Neyland, and Nella Stephens; Noah Drew and Andy Clay Starr; and Lennon and Henry Fletcher Adkins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Cora (Findley) Stephens, brothers Tommy Stephens, Stanley Stephens, Roger Stephens, Paul Stephens, Claude Stephens, and Harold Stephens, sister Ruth (Stephens) Young, and son-in-law Jerry Tipton.

“Pa David” will be greatly missed by all those that knew him. His family and friends will never hear a weather forecast, see FOX News or a republican debate, smell a freshly tilled garden, pass a busy farmer’s market, or think of internet checkers or a poker table without remembering all the little things that made him special and, most importantly, theirs. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 18, 2024 at 1:00 in the afternoon at Mundy Funeral Home South Chapel. Burial will follow in the Stephens Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, March 17, 2024 from 5:00 to 8:00 in the evening. 

The Mundy Funeral Home South Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

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