David L Petty

David Leon Petty passed away on September 4, 2026, in Comanche, Tx, at the age of 78. He was born February 4, 1948, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Herman and June Goodwin Petty. Much of his childhood was spent in Nazareth, Israel, where his parents were missionary teachers at the Baptist School. He learned Arabic and was blessed to live in the land where Jesus had walked.

His freshman year of high school was at San Marcos Military Academy in San Marcos, Texas, while his folks were still in Nazareth. When the family returned to the United States, they made their home in Abilene, Texas. A month after David turned seventeen, he joined the U.S. Navy Reserve with weekly drills and training in the summer. After graduation from Cooper High School in Abilene, he attended Cisco Junior College, and then volunteered for Navy Active Duty.

The Navy sent him, as a seaman, to the U.S.S. Cabildo (LSD-16) off the coast of Vietnam. Later, USS Vernon County (LST 1161) in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam, working with the 9th Infantry in Mobile Riverine Force Bravo.

David returned to Abilene after his time in the navy. He married Jan Robertson in Comanche, TX, on June 20, 1969. They moved to Commerce, TX, where David studied under the G.I. Bill at East Texas State University. (Now called East Texas A&M) He obtained his B.S. in 1972 and his M.S. in 1978. He's been a life long student of World History!

Born again by faith in Christ Jesus, David has been involved in various volunteer ministry projects. He's had many part time and summer jobs, and has met many wonderful people.

He was teaching in Abilene where Samuel David, was born, and in Austin where Paul David was born. The family later moved to Comanche, TX, where David taught for the rest of his career. After 31 years of marriage, his wife Jan passed away.

Two years later, David married Kathy Spalding Kelly on March 8, 2003, in Goldthwaite, TX. She had 2 grown sons, Alan Carouth and Anthony Kelly.

In their retirement, David and Kathy helped with the Salvation Army Food Pantry and have enjoyed traveling, reading, watching old movies, and TX reruns, doing jigsaw puzzles, and playing dominoes and backgammon.

David has cruised the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. He has climbed two West Texas mountains, driven up a mountain in New Hampshire in the fog, hiked, camped, gone white water rafting, ridden a camel, an elephant, an open pit bi-plane, and was in two total eclipses. He has enjoyed yard work and doing projects around the home he has lived in since 1980. The worships and fellowships at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church has been a great blessing to him.

He is predeceased by his late wife Jan Robertson Petter (1947-2001), sons Samuel David Petty (1975-2015) and Paul David Petty (1978-2022). He is survived by his wife Kathy Spalding Petty; stepsons Alan Carouth (Lisa) and Anthony Kelly (Mary); daughter-in-law Lilia Petty; siblings Ann Amerson (Guy), Doug Petty (Cindy), Joan Arnold (Eddie), and Joy Miller (Dan); nine grandchildren, and several great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

One of the most beloved verses in the Bible, John 3:16, was always a great comfort to David - from his youth to his old age...and now to eternity! "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."