Obituary: David Russell Blevins

David Russell Blevins, 66, of Carson City, was born December 27, 1945. David grew up in the small farm town of Dos Palos, California in the San Joaquin Valley. He told stories of his Grandpa's farm where he learned the importance of working hard and living an honest life. It was in Dos Palos that he met the love of his life, Linda, in 1963. Four months after her graduation in 1965 they were married and spent the next 47 years together.

In 1967 David was drafted into the Army and in 1968 was sent to Vietnam. David rarely spoke of his time there, never telling his family what he did that earned him a Bronze Star. David remained in the Army until 1981.

In 1981 David left military service and relocated to Carson City, Nevada where he went back to school and began a second career as a Special Education Teacher. His passion for teaching and learning was life-long. While working as a teacher, David continued his education and obtained a Masters Degree in Educational Administration.

In 2004 David was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and was given five years to live. He and Linda took an early retirement to travel the country in their RV and enjoy the precious years they had left. In 2010 David was placed on the lung transplant list and on January 6, 2011, David received the gift of a new lung. The generosity of the donor family gave David fifteen more months with his family. On May 28, 2012, after fighting hard for almost a month, David succumbed to a virus.

David is preceded in death by his parents, Gaylord and Edlena, and his in-laws, Carl and Kittie Johnson, and grandson Brenden. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his children: Matthew (Tomi), Marla (Steve); his grandchildren: Kristina, Kody, Trent and Alyssa; and great-grandson, Hayden; and two step-grandchildren, Mika and Chance.

Services will be held at the Dayton Intermediate School on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. under the direction of Walton's Funeral. We invite you to leave a message in the Book of Memories at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.