David Harold Fones' Obituary
David Harold Fones, 94, of Cordova, Tennessee passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, Tennessee. David was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Memphis, Tennessee at a young age with his family. As a teenager, he worked the wheat fields out west and returned to Memphis before graduating from Messick High School. During the Korean War, he served as a machine gun instructor at Fort Benning, which enhanced his love of firearms. He was a proud lifetime NRA member and gun enthusiast. After leaving the army, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, married and had two children, Debra and David. After the marriage ended, he went on to marry the late Patsy Weston Fones and had two children, Sandra (Sandy) and Brian. During this time, he became a typewriter and calculator mechanic for Remington Rand. The family moved to Bartlett, Tennessee in the late 1960s and shortly thereafter, David became owner of an office supply store, Dixie Office Machines. David was a natural businessman and loved to bargain. After retirement in the 1990s, he pursued his love of collecting antiques, which included Occupied Japan figurines, inspired by his late wife, Patsy. He would spend time with his children and grandchildren antiquing and haggling over prices. He was always on a mission to find very specific antiques, which kept his family on a perpetual scavenger hunt. David’s other hobby was woodworking. Over the years, he made several pieces of furniture, bird houses and chopping blocks for family and friends. He will long be remembered for his strong will, sense of humor and unwavering love for his family.
David is survived by his children, Debra Garms, David Howard Fones, Sandra Bright (Kevin) and Brian Fones (Ruth Young), sisters, Jean Manspeaker and Karen Johnson (Rob), grandchildren Joseph David Grabenhorst (Alison), Hans R. Grabenhorst, Jr. (Christian Taylor), Megan Magnant (Marcus), Kevin Martin, Jasen Martin (Krista), Jennifer Martin, Ryan Ford and Patrick Fones (Taylor), Casey Vanderbilt (Ashley), and eleven great-grandchildren Cordelia, Ethan, Audrey, Caleb, Gavin, Vivian, Nora, Claire, Harper, Hayden and Cameron. He is preceded in death by his parents, Helen Magree Fones, Harry D. Fones, wife Patsy Weston Fones, brothers Michael Fones and Howard Fones, and sister Linda Kelley.
Visitation will be on Sunday July 13, 2025 beginning at 12:00 p.m. with a memorial service at 1:00 p.m. and graveside burial to follow at Memorial Park Funeral Home. David made ongoing contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for many years. The family requests that consideration be made to make a donation to St. Jude’s in his memory.
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