David O'del Stamey, 72, passed away in his home surrounded by his loving family on September 18, 2013, after a battle with Alzheimer's disease and pneumonia. He was born in Gadsden, AL July 10, 1941, to O'del and Louise Wise Stamey. He grew up in Birmingham and graduated from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and Business Administration in 1964. He loved his time with the Crimson Tide and was a proud member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. David met his wife, Sandy, when they both served as camp counselors at Camp Winnataska in AL. They were married September 3, 1963, and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to the camp where they met and where they honeymooned in Gatlinburg, TN. After college graduation, David served as 2nd Lieutenant and then Captain in the United States Air Force for four years and received a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. After David left the Air Force, he began a long and successful career in the airline industry, serving in executive leadership positions at Southern Airways, Braniff International, Texas International and Continental Airlines. His position at Braniff brought David and Sandy to Dallas, TX in 1973. In 1984 David founded his own company, Transportation Planning, Inc., consulting in the airline industry until just three months prior to his passing. After raising their children in Texas, David and Sandy moved to Virginia for several years and then returned to Richardson to retire. They joined First United Methodist Church in Richardson and were blessed to have two of their three children return to this area as well. David loved his work and he loved his family. He served others by directing and participating in various church choirs over the years and more recently working with Veterans groups to meet returning soldiers and doing volunteer deliveries for Meals on Wheels. He set very high standards for us to follow. He loved music, the Cowboys, his golden retrievers, and playing golf with his son.
David is survived by his wife, Rev. Sandra Hill Stamey; daughters, Deanne McElroy and her husband Dennis and Catherine Luck and her husband Randy; son, Kenneth David Stamey; granddaughter, Stefanie Stewart; sister, Frances Blake and her husband Robert; brother-in-law, Jerry Hill; and many other family members and friends who love and respect him. He will be incredibly missed until we are all together again in Heaven.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, 503 North Central Expressway, Richardson, Texas 75080. A reception will follow the service at the church.