David Leon Presley, devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend died surrounded by his family on April 19, 2014.
He was born in Eatonton as the second oldest son in a large family.
He married the only love of his life, Love Lankford, in 1946 and theirs was a happy marriage for 67 years. Their first son, Hugh Cleven, was born in 1951 and their second son, Randy Keith, was born in 1952.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Eatonton. He ably served his country as a devoted veteran in WW II in England in the United States Army Air Corp. He was proud of his military service and especially about being able to patch up planes that had been damaged in combat.
He worked for the United States Postal Service for 38 year and, for the most of those years, was a country mail carrier. He loved riding the back country roads of Putnam County, and as he passed by an old house or farm he would name the owner and perhaps several previous owners. He could point out where a family lived, where they farmed and what they grew and the details of their life.
A man of many talents, he was reluctant to have anything done that he could do for himself. As a child of the Great Depression he learned the value of independence, self-reliance, and – above all – the value of a hard-earned dollar.
He lived a deliberate life and was extraordinarily industrious. He conducted his life by reasoned ritual and had a purpose for every action he took.
He fancied himself a practical engineer, and many of his projects displayed an elegant approach to solving a problem.
After a Sunday church service many were the times that the family would be sitting in the car, waiting on Dad to come to go home, and there would be one or two other cars remaining. When he did finally come, he would always say that someone else just wanted to talk and he couldn't get away. Off course, the family knew he was the person carrying the conversation.
It has been said that the time a person spends praying is added on the end of life. Anyone who knew how he prayed would not be surprised at his long life. When he sat down to each meal, everyone around the table – and especially the Lord – was fully aware of just how thankful everyone was for the many blessings in their lives and the food before them. His prayers were conversations and he knew God was listening and answering.
He is survived by his sons, Hugh Cleven (Sue) and Randy Keith (Teresa Brock); step-grandson, Burt Dodson; step-great-granddaughter, Bailey Dodson; brothers, Bob Presley of Jonesboro, Ga.; and Lee (Bobbie Sue) of Texas; sister, Elizabeth Griffin of Macon; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Love Lankford; father, Terrell Grady, and mother, Louise Hughes Presley; brothers, Oliver, Calvin, Raymond, Raleigh and Orris; and sisters, Gertrude and Valeria.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 22, at Vining Ivy Hill Chapel at 1:30 p.m. Service will follow at 3 p.m., and burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery.
David Leon Presley, devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend died surrounded by his family on April 19, 2014.
He was born in Eatonton as the second oldest son in a large family.
He married the only love of his life, Love Lankford, in 1946 and theirs was a happy marriage for 67 years. Their first son, Hugh Cleven, was born in 1951 and their second son, Randy Keith, was born in 1952.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Eatonton. He ably served his country as a devoted veteran in WW II in England in the United States Army Air Corp. He was proud of his military service and especially about being able to patch up planes that had been damaged in combat.
He worked for the United States Postal Service for 38 year and, for the most of those years, was a country mail carrier. He loved riding the back country roads of Putnam County, and as he passed by an old house or farm he would name the owner and perhaps several previous owners. He could point out where a family lived, where they farmed and what they grew and the details of their life.
A man of many talents, he was reluctant to have anything done that he could do for himself. As a child of the Great Depression he learned the value of independence, self-reliance, and – above all – the value of a hard-earned dollar.
He lived a deliberate life and was extraordinarily industrious. He conducted his life by reasoned ritual and had a purpose for every action he took.
He fancied himself a practical engineer, and many of his projects displayed an elegant approach to solving a problem.
After a Sunday church service many were the times that the family would be sitting in the car, waiting on Dad to come to go home, and there would be one or two other cars remaining. When he did finally come, he would always say that someone else just wanted to talk and he couldn't get away. Off course, the family knew he was the person carrying the conversation.
It has been said that the time a person spends praying is added on the end of life. Anyone who knew how he prayed would not be surprised at his long life. When he sat down to each meal, everyone around the table – and especially the Lord – was fully aware of just how thankful everyone was for the many blessings in their lives and the food before them. His prayers were conversations and he knew God was listening and answering.
He is survived by his sons, Hugh Cleven (Sue) and Randy Keith (Teresa Brock); step-grandson, Burt Dodson; step-great-granddaughter, Bailey Dodson; brothers, Bob Presley of Jonesboro, Ga.; and Lee (Bobbie Sue) of Texas; sister, Elizabeth Griffin of Macon; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Love Lankford; father, Terrell Grady, and mother, Louise Hughes Presley; brothers, Oliver, Calvin, Raymond, Raleigh and Orris; and sisters, Gertrude and Valeria.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 22, at Vining Ivy Hill Chapel at 1:30 p.m. Service will follow at 3 p.m., and burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery.
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