David Ronald Reece

David Ronald Reece, 67, of Rainsville, passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham. He was born January 8, 1949, to the late Betty Harris Reece and David Zane Reece. He attended Fort Payne City Schools and the University of Alabama, and was a member of the First Baptist Church. After starting his career with Ladd Engineering, David served Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative as staff engineer for thirty-eight years. David enjoyed sports and guitars, but was completely devoted to all the generations of his family. His greatest pride was raising his children, Zane and Alicia, and he loved his stepdaughters, Joan and Rachel, as his own. He looked forward to cooking the birthday dinner for every child and grandchild, including the honoree’s favorite cake – which might include four-layer pudding or Mexican cornbread, because he encouraged everyone to be individualistic. He delighted in telling and retelling funny family anecdotes. David’s personality was larger than life. He enjoyed meeting people and took an instant liking to almost everyone. He loved to tease and used nicknames freely, whether creative ones he composed himself or old childhood nicknames he remembered – his own basketball name was Wild Man. He was musically talented and intellectually curious. When he considered a new recipe or yardwork challenge, he researched it like a scholar. Above all, he was open, generous, and kind. David is survived by his wife, Marilyn King Reece; son and daughter-in-law David Zane Reece II and Amy; daughters and sons-in-law Alicia Presta and Sestino, Joan Swan and Ryan, and Rachel Miller and Michael; sister and brother-in-law Judy Crowley and John; grandchildren, Dylan, Kailyn, Reece, Chloe, Trey, Aaron, Adam, Ashlynn, Chase, Hannah, and Luke; and beloved nieces and cousins. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Wilson Funeral Home with burial following in Glenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 4 until 7 p.m. The family is accepting flowers or memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Asscociation, 3918 Montclair Road, Suite 218, Birmingham, AL 35213.

David Ronald Reece

January 8, 1949 - February 23, 2016