David Ray Maness, 81, passed away on March 14, 2026, in DeSoto, Texas.

He was born on July 8, 1944, in Fort Benning, Georgia, to John and Ruth Maness, both of whom preceded him in death. He spent most of his life in North Texas, including more than 50 years in Midlothian.

David proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1966 as a radio electronics technician. During that time, he was stationed in Amarillo, Texas, where he and his wife began their life together before returning to North Texas to build their home and family.

David married his wife, Jo, in 1964, and they remained married for over 60 years. Together, they built a life rooted in work, family, and perseverance.

He went on to serve his community through the Irving Fire Department and later the Dallas Fire Department, where he worked for more than two decades before retiring in the mid-1990s.

David was a determined, resourceful, and focused man — someone who approached life with intensity and a strong sense of how things should be done.

He was, above all, someone who fixed things.

David and his wife, Jo, met as young adults in the Irving area, where social life often centered around drive-ins, group outings, and time spent with friends. They had begun dating and getting to know each other when a moment occurred that would leave a lasting impression. At a gathering, something broke, and while others moved on, David immediately stepped in and fixed it without hesitation. That simple act — seeing a problem and making it right — reflected something fundamental about who he was and became a defining memory of how their life together began.

That instinct showed up everywhere in his life. If something was broken — whether it was a car, a motorcycle, a household item, or something brought to him by his sons — he would stop what he was doing and give it his full attention. He worked patiently and persistently until it was right. It wasn’t just a skill; it was how he showed care.

He once shared a childhood memory of a cartoon car that was broken and hurting, only to be repaired and made whole again. That idea stayed with him and seemed to shape how he moved through the world.

David enjoyed motorcycles and the freedom they gave him. When he needed time to think, he would take long rides on country roads, sometimes for hours. On most days, he could be found in the garage — welding, building, or working with his hands. He believed in staying busy and solving what was in front of him.

He had a dry, often quirky sense of humor, offering small remarks that reflected his unique way of seeing the world. Though generally a private man, he was never closed off to others and could talk to anyone, often striking up conversations and forming connections — even through the self-serve car washes he owned and operated over the years.

As a father, David held strong standards and believed in doing things the right way. He valued fairness and expected others to treat people with respect. His influence lives on in the lives of his family — especially in the drive to be capable, to solve problems, and to handle what comes.

He is survived by his wife, Jo; his brother, Leroy; his sons, Scott and Todd; his daughters-in-law, Emily and Lydia; and his grandchildren, Kohl, Kate, and Zachary. He was preceded in death by his father John, his mother Ruth, and his brother Bill.

His life was defined not by words, but by action — by the steady, persistent effort to fix what was in front of him and keep things moving forward.

A private service will be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

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