David Merle Unks was a genuine person; you always knew where you stood with him. If you were his friend, he was the most loyal friend a person could ask for. He passed away on September 27, 2021, in Knoxville, TN.

David was born on December 12, 1958, to Merle and Ruth Ann Unks in Wexford, PA. Shortly after he was born, the family moved to South Florida where he enjoyed fishing from the Deerfield Beach pier and riding in his boat. He graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale in 1977, and later graduated from Broward Community College.

He was a very hard-working and ethical man, and his work history is very diverse. His first job was working as a bag boy at Publix Supermarkets. He worked at Sears as an automotive mechanic and a roofing and air conditioning sales specialist. His insurance career spanned over 30 years, and his accomplishments included winning life insurance sales contests and being one of the best litigation claims adjusters in Arizona.

In March 1991, David married the love of his life, Ruth Ann Bash, and they were married over 30 years. They started their married life in South Florida, and they moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1995 where they lived until January 2021. They then moved to Knoxville, TN where they started a new adventure in their lives. David enjoyed taking their Coleman Lantern trailer on camping trips, and he especially enjoyed the trip to Lynchburg, TN where they toured the Jack Daniels Distillery. (He called it “The Vatican” for whiskey aficionados.) He loved reading and commenting on news stories, and he enjoyed target practice with his wide variety of guns. One of his true passions was being a dog dad for various dogs that he and Ruth shared over the years.

David is survived by his wife, Ruth, his two dogs, and many beloved friends and family. One of his friends recently remarked that David was “one-of-a-kind”; no truer words have been spoken. He is greatly missed.