Obituary of David Earl Tuten

David Earl Tuten, 79, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died peacefully and out of pain at Hospice in Aldersgate on Friday, January 22, 2021, after a brief illness.

David was born September 7, 1941, in New Bern, North Carolina.  He was the second son of Zelma R. Tuten Best and Noah Tuten of New Bern, North Carolina. 

David attended East Carolina University and then joined the US Army in 1960.  Upon his discharge in 1963 he went to work for Interstate Securities in Germany.  He then moved to Charlotte and became a career-long employee of GMAC.  David retired from GMAC after 36 years. 

David’s favorite place on this Earth was his house in Dilworth, where he lived for 47 years.  Closely followed by the cottage at Lake Lure, where he loved to be any time of the year. His speed boat and then his pontoon boat were two of his favorites for just wandering around the lake in the sun.  He loved fishing with the dog even if he didn’t catch anything.   He loved riding around on the back roads of the North Carolina mountains and visiting out of the way places that that had a sense of beauty or history or both. 

David also loved Orient Beach on St. Martin where he and Kathy spent a bit of time every year for 26 years.  He enjoyed walking the beach with a big cup of coffee every morning and talking to anyone who would talk to him.  David never met a stranger.  And made many friends on the beach that he continued to keep in contact with over the years. 

David’s favorite hobby for many years was his lawn and flowers and making it look perfect.  He dearly loved working outside in the yard. He loved playing basketball in the back yard with his friends, neighbors, and colleagues.  And in later years he became the ‘Porch Supervisor’ of the neighborhood, summoning anyone and everyone, whether he new them at first or not, to come up onto the porch to introduce themselves and have a friendly chat.  David was a kind person with a no-nonsense manner and a droll sense of humor.  His kindness and his willingness to take people as they are in particular will be greatly missed. 

Dave played football in high school, at East Carolina, and in the army.  Dave loved Duke basketball, UNC basketball, Hawaiian print shirts, southern old fashioned pound cake, Bud Light, walking a beach anywhere, reading the newspaper from cover to cover every morning, ‘conducting’ classical music from his armchair, and anything by Jimmy Buffett. 

David was born into the Episcopal Church and particularly loved the little Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave, North Carolina, where he was a member for many years. 

David was predeceased by his mother, Zelma R. Tuten Best, his father, Noah Tuten, and his older brother, Alexander R. Tuten (Sandy).

David is survived by the love of his life and his wife of 48 years, Kathy Myers Tuten, whom he met in The Singing Christmas Tree 48 years ago, He is also survived by his daughter Sarah Korf of Ossenbach, Germany, and his grandchildren Alex and Annie Korf.  He is also survived by his niece Laurie Tuten and his nephew Stephen Tuten.  And the latest loves of his life, his Shih Tzu sons Wally and Benji. 

Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 7845 Little Ave., Charlotte, NC  28226.

Arrangements are in the hands of Hankins and Whittington of Charlotte.  Online condolences can be shared at www.hankinsandwhittington.com 

A remembrance/reception for David will be held at a later date this spring when the worst of COVID has receded. 

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