David Dullinger

Born in Honesdale, PA to Loren (Lonnie) and Celia Dullinger, he was born at the height of the Russian's testing their rockets, this one named "Sputnik", so the nurses called him their "Little Sputnik". A few weeks after he was born, he was dedicated to the Lord, in a baptismal like service. As he grew older, he decided that he liked everyone so well, that he would walk off with just anybody, so we had to keep a close eye on him. Later in life, he was the same, he never met a stranger. His warmth and outgoing nature allowed him to make meaningful connections effortlessly.

Much to my misgivings, he decided in the tenth grade that he would join the Army and since he was of age, I couldn't stop him. And then my other son Duane, decided since his brother was enlisting, he wanted to also, but I had to sign for his brother. I remember the days they left for boot camp, Mom cried a barrel of tears. They left in two days of each other. They each joined the Army, but after they got in, they were seperated by many miles, for the first time in their lives. David served his 6 years and got out, while his brother stayed for 21 years.

David was an avid sports fan, loving his Tennessee Titans, basketball and baseball.He also enjoyed his Sunday morning religious sermons. His brother took him on a cruise, and he took numerous pictures of different religious areas.

Five years ago he developed a sore throat that repeatedly kept getting worse. By the time he knew what the doctors were dealing with, his throat had swelled to where they could only put a straw down his throat, so that was when they had to do a tracheotomy so he could breathe. The diagnosis came back of throat cancer. He was living in Chattanooga, TN at the time, and the only hospital that dealt with that kind of cancer was in Knoxville, so I left home and stopped and picked him up and took him to have his surgery, during the surging Covid epidemic. It was there that I started calling him my Warrior and he lived up to the name. I also called him my "sweetpea" which I don't think he cared for that one much. When we found out he had lung cancer we said that we fought it once and we would do it again, but that wouldn't be this time. I was with him when he went to meet the Master. I know where my Warrior is, which is a great comfort to me.

David is preceded in death by his father, Loren Dullinger; his maternal grandparents, C. Paul Dennis and Lorraine Dennis; and his beloved uncle, Charles "Chuck Dennis; and his paternal grandfather Walter Charles Lane.

David is survived by his mother, Celia Naomi Sweet; his brother Duane Elliot Penwarden; his sister Melanie Lorraine Carlton; aunt, Linda Dennis; cousins, Kimberly Keesler and Krissy Dennis Shuller.

A visitation for David will be held Monday, June 2, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Ridout's Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35235. Following the visitation will be a graveside service at 2:00 PM at Alabama National Cemetery, 3133 Hwy 119, Montevallo, AL 35115. Elder Je'Neen Russell will be officiating the graveside service.

Honorary Pallbearers are Larry Newsome, Jerry LeDoux, David Kuykendoll, Pervis Russell, Eddie Wilkinson and Robert Moore.