David Lowell Guenther

David Lowell Guenther Sr. died peacefully at the age of 92 on May 16, 2023. 

He attended Joe T Robinson graduating in 1947. Following graduation, he married the love of his life, Thresa Marshall. David then began his career at Missouri Pacific Railroad. Following his retirement from the railroad, he worked at North Little Rock Funeral Home as a funeral director.  Later, David was instrumental as one of the founders of the Roland Crisis Closet where he volunteered for many years. 

David’s hobbies included fishing, hunting, collecting tools of all kinds, also knives and watches.  He loved tinkering around in his shops and being a handyman and mechanic. On Sunday mornings, he could be found making the world’s best biscuits and gravy while simultaneously putting on a pot roast for lunch. On top of this, he still managed to have his Sunday School lesson prepared to deliver for his class at church. He also had a beautiful voice and loved to sing in church. But above all other things it was his passion for teaching God’s word that is one of the things he is remembered most for.   

He was firm, but a quiet and tender Father.  He led a busy life, working two jobs at times to help provide for his family.  Years later after surviving his second round of Colon cancer, his perspective on life changed. He’d laugh out loud, he loved watching Dancing with the Stars with his grandkids and watching Hallmark movies.  He said “I love to see happy endings”.  He loved watching the hummingbirds outside of his window, the goldfish in the tank next to his chair,  and enjoyed all the beautiful flowers Mom grew in her garden.  In his last year, he got great joy from helping create crazy balloon designs with his daughter. We had never seen him smile so often as he did about his ‘creations’. 

David is preceded in his death by his sons, David Jr. and Mike; his five siblings, Rose Alexander, Robert, Semmie, Kenneth and Earl Guenther; and his parents, Robert and Marie Leslie Guenther. 

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Thresa; his daughters, Diana Guenther and Dot Bonner; and son, Mark Guenther (Trisha). He is also survived by Christophe Block, whom he loved like a son; his 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great- grandchildren. 

Pallbearers will be Allen Blakely, Christophe Block, Tim Carr, Shane Guenther, Jake Payne, Chris Rowlett, Jeff Tabor and Shane Tapley. 

A public graveside celebration of his life will be held at the Guenther-Presley Cemetery on West Pinnacle Road on May 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

 

A special thank you to David’s Gentiva Hospice nurses: Jo, Mindy, Sarah and Vickie.  Arrangements entrusted to Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.