John David Tinsley

John David Tinsley was introduced into this world on September 27, 1938 in Three Rivers, TX. David unexpectedly left our presence on November 21st in Falls County, TX, the place that he called home. He was the first of three children to John Bunyan and Mildred Elizabeth Jones Tinsley. David cherished his family, friends, all airplanes and his beautiful Texas river ranch properties. His passion in life was meeting new friends, helping anyone that required it and visiting all of them when he could. David loved Texas so much that one of his greatest accomplishments, unknown to most, was organizing, funding and documenting on video a personal 3,816 mile adventure around the border of Texas. David and his team spent over 2 years traveling by boat, motorcycle, jeep, horseback, helicopter and airboat around the great state of Texas. David had many callings in life but first and foremost he was an entrepreneur in the restaurant business. He was an early pioneer in the fast food industry where he began Tinsley’s Chicken n’ Rolls in Huntsville, TX. with his parents and brother Talmadge Tinsley. David and family excelled from the beginning and in 15 years the company grew to over 45 units throughout East Texas, from Dallas to Houston to Kerrville. Other successful restaurants that were under the Tinsley name were the Historic Elite Café and The Health Camp in Waco TX, and Steak N’ Spirits in Huntsville, Tyler, and Shenandoah. David was the ultimate “Free Spirit” and was known to many as a true “Giant of a Man”. David’s wealth of life was measured by the people he touched, who he could help and who he could call a friend; these were the ideals and beliefs that drove him. Mr. Tinsley is survived by daughter, Deborah Humphreys and husband, Stephen of Huntsville TX; son, Scott Tinsley and Hedaya of Dallas TX; son, Jeff Tinsley and wife, Veronique of The Woodlands TX, grandchildren Taylor, Preston, Mason, Morgan, Hayden and Marshall; brother Talmadge Tinsley and wife Bonnie; sister Kathy Wilson and husband Craig; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; long-time companion Tina Barrett. Mr. Tinsley was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Donohoo Tinsley and parents, John and Mildred Tinsley. The families will receive friends on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, from 5:00 until 7:30 PM at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Texas. A celebration of his life will begin at 11:00 on Wednesday, November 26, Northside Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to: Boys & Girls Club of Walker County, P.O. Box 8600, Huntsville, Texas 77340 or Boys & Girls Club of Marlin, Texas 76661. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com

John David Tinsley

November 21, 2014