David Jackson Puett

David Jackson Puett, Sr., 86, of Chester, Virginia, passed away on June 18, 2026, at St. Mary's Hospital. He was born on June 14, 1940, in Morganton, North Carolina, to Arthur Eugene Puett and Beatrice Diamond Puett.

David was a calm, deeply loved man who made the people around him feel better. He was smart, patient, kind, and quietly funny with a dry sense of humor that those closest to him knew very well. He never needed to be the center of attention. He simply had a way of being there for people, helping where he could, and making others feel comfortable.

To his family and friends, David was the "Mr. Fix It." If something broke, he was the person people wanted to call. He understood tools, repairs, and common problems in a way that seemed natural to him. He was skilled with sheet metal, refrigeration, woodworking, and just about anything that required patience, good hands, and a good mind. If he did not know exactly how to fix something at first, he would stay with it until he figured it out.

That was one of the clearest things about David. He was never afraid of a hard problem. He did not believe in saying "I can't." He believed in giving 110 percent, thinking things through, and finding a better way. People relied on him because he was dependable, but also because he had the calm confidence of someone who did not give up easily.

David lived with a practical kind of wisdom. He believed you should make the best decision you can at the time and have no regrets, because you did the best you could in that moment. That was how he handled life. He did not waste much time on drama or second-guessing. He did his best, helped others do the same, and kept moving forward.

David grew up in Morganton, North Carolina, and attended Glen Alpine High School. He later earned his Sheet Metal and Refrigeration Certification from Richmond Technical School.

In 1961, David began working at DuPont Chemicals, where he spent 38 years. He served as Supervisor of Maintenance and Research Lab and was proud of the long career he built there. He retired from DuPont in 1999, grateful for the work, the people, and the life that his career helped provide. He also enjoyed every minute of the long retirement that followed.

David married Joan McGalliard Puett on September 16, 1960. They shared a life of more than 65 years, raising their children, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and returning again and again to the places and routines they loved. Together, they raised their children, Pamela Puett Roberts and David Jackson Puett, Jr.

Faith was central to David's life. He was baptized in 1969 at Kingsland Baptist Church, where he became deeply involved over the years. He began teaching Sunday School in 1970, was ordained a deacon in 1971, and became Sunday School Director in 1972. His faith mattered to him, and it showed in the way he lived: with patience, gratitude, service, humility, and care for others.

One of David's familiar sayings was, "I am truly blessed." He said it often, and he meant it. He felt blessed by his family, his faith, his work, his country, and the life he had been given. He was grateful for the big things, but also for the simple ones.

David loved the Washington Redskins. He loved NASCAR. He loved tinkering around the house, and mowing the grass. And he rarely met a History Channel show he did not enjoy. A comfortable pair of sweatpants, sports on TiVo, and a quiet evening could make him perfectly content.

One of David's favorite places was Carolina Beach, North Carolina. He and Joan own Condo 205 at Atlantic Towers, and it became a special place in their lives. They vacation there often with family and friends. David loved "crashing" at the condo, looking out at the beautiful beach, relaxing, and settling into the comfort of a place that felt like home. Carolina Beach gave him rest, enjoyment, and many happy memories.

David and Joan also enjoyed seeing the world together with their family. Their travels took them to many islands in the Caribbean, as well as California, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia. He saw remarkable places, but the heart of those trips was always the people he shared them with.

David also served his family in smaller but meaningful ways, including as an assistant coach for his son DJ's little league baseball team. It was the kind of role that fit him well, giving him another way to be patient, steady, and encouraging.

He was proud of the United States and believed it was the best country in the world. He valued hard work, faith, family, responsibility, loyalty, and doing your part. He believed in helping when help was needed. He believed in figuring things out. He believed in doing the best you could with what was in front of you. He never complained, and he never gave excuses.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Joan McGalliard Puett; his daughter, Pamela Puett Roberts, and her husband, Timothy James Roberts; his son, David Jackson Puett, Jr.; his brother, Billy Arthur Puett, and his wife, Carolyn Erwin Puett; his nephew, William Bradford Puett; his nieces, Jennifer Page Puett, Patricia Puett Dement and her husband, Brian Shea Dement, and Kristie Brown Kidd and her husband, Roger Dale Kidd; and other family members and friends who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Eugene Puett and Beatrice Diamond Puett; his brother, Bobby Eugene Puett; and his sister-in-law, Patricia Early Puett.

David leaves behind the memory of a man who was useful in the best sense of the word. He could fix things. He could calm a situation. He could help someone think through a problem. He could make people feel better about themselves. He could say very little, and still make his presence known.

He lived a life of faith, family, work, travel, humor, and gratitude. He gave his best. He helped where he could. He loved his family. He enjoyed his life.

As David often said, he truly felt blessed in his life. And he was. But everyone who knew and loved him knows the blessing was theirs too.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 30, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at J.T. Morriss Funeral Home, 3050 W. Hundred Road, Chester, VA 23831.

The funeral will be held Wednesday, July 1, at 11:00 a.m. at Kingsland Baptist Church in North Chesterfield, Virginia. A procession to the gravesite at Sunset Memorial Park will follow. There will be a short reception at the church afterward.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kingsland Baptist Church, 8801 Perrymont Road, North Chesterfield, Virginia 23237.

Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.