Ralph David Preskitt Jr.

Ralph David Preskitt, Jr., 81, Attalla, transitioned quietly into his heavenly rest on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. When asked what he needed, he often joked, “a new body.” He received that gift peacefully, while watching an Alabama football game replay with his daughter by his side.

Funeral services for Mr. Preskitt will be at Morgan Funeral Chapel, Attalla, on Sunday, November 3, 2024. The family will receive visitors from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Cave Springs Cemetery, Duck Springs.

David was a graduate of Etowah High School and served as a jet engine mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps (Private First Class). After his Vietnam-era service, he worked at Republic Steel Company and retired from the Anniston Army Depot. David was a lifelong resident of Attalla up until the past two years, when he moved to Birmingham to be closer to his daughter. He loved hunting, cars, Reba McEntire, Braves baseball, and – of course – Alabama football (“Roll Tide, Daddy!”). David enjoyed telling a good story and pulling your leg if you’d let him. He worked hard to keep the squirrels from eating his pears and to keep them out of the bird feeders (often looking the other way when he knew Carolyn was feeding them on the sly). David was a perfectionist (some might say a little OCD) who was sure there was a best way to do things, and if you really think about it, he was often right. He was also sure that you could do anything with a good pair of vice grips!

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Carolyn J. Whitt Preskitt; father, Ralph David (Nell) Preskitt, Sr.; mother, June (Opie) Reed; in-laws Margie and Ivan Whitt; and brothers-in-law Felton Whitt, Morris Holliday, Dewayne Bankson, and Tommy Myers.

David is survived by his devoted daughter, Julie Preskitt; brother, Opie L. (Jeanette) Reed; sisters Peggy Preskitt Leroy and Patricia Myers; sisters-in-law Faye Holliday, Marie Bankson, Martha (Mike) Davis, Barbara Talley, and Sherry (Allen) Woodall; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the UAB Movement Disorders Clinic and to the staff at The Lodge at the Oaks on Parkwood and Aspire Physical Recovery Center at Hoover. These kind folks helped my Dad show his sweet side and keep pushing on. And to the incredible staff of ExpectCare Hospice – I will forever be grateful for your support and guidance. You held our little family close and gave me the words and strength to walk these last steps of a long journey. Thank you for really seeing my Dad.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (https://give.michaeljfox.org/).