David Stackhouse passes away at his home in Panama City Beach, Florida on August 2, 2019 after a long illness. He was 78 years of age. He was preceded in death by his parents Nathan C. Stackhouse and Edith Hightower Stackhouse.
David was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 10, 1941. When he was a small child his parents moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida. There he grew up and developed a love for the water. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in the marshes and reeds of the St. John River. His favorite duck hunting grounds were where the current Kennedy Space Center is now located.
David attended Cocoa High School, a year at the University of Florida and the University of Alabama majoring in Engineering. He was a strong supporter of “The Tide” the rest of his life.
After college David joined the U.S. Coast Guard during the Vietnam era. For some of his military career he was stationed near Mobile, Alabama and was on a ship responsible for servicing and maintaining bouy lights in the shipping lane from the Mississippi River to the 200 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The last two years of his service he was stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Air Station in Kodiak, Alalska. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Quartermaster. While stationed in Alaska he tracked and killed a large 10 foot 3 inch Kodiak Brown Bear weighing over 1300 pounds. Mounted and hanging on his wall to this day, it is a major item of conversation to everyone who enters his home.
David lived in the Trussville, Alabama area for over forty years before moving to Panama City Beach, Florida in 2002. He was a self-employed antique dealer traveling over the eastern United States for many years before retirement.
David was dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America where he served as a Den Leader, Cub Master, and Troop Leader for over 10 years. He was a positive influence to many boys who went through the scout program. David was extremely patriotic to this country, and whenever he encountered military service members he always thanked them for their services. David supported and was a member of the American Legion for many years.
David was a quiet, kind person with a very funny sense of humor. He loved to tease the children and they loved him for it. He was very intelligent and wise and everyone respected his advice.
David is survived by his fiancée, longtime companion, and caregiver, Carolyn P. Schaal; his children, Nathan C. Stackhouse II, Barry Wayne Schaal, and Susan Renee Fields; his grandchildren, Hannah Christine Darnell (Justin), Emilie Michelle Stewart, Taylor Wade Fields, Elizabeth Hope Griffin, Liam David Stackhouse, and great grandson, Cloud Asher Gibson.
Services will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at Ridout's Trussville Chapel with visitation beginning at 10 AM and services at 11 AM. Interment will follow in Jefferson Memorial Gardens.
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