David Elvis Respess, age 58, a resident of Pike Road, N.C., died at his home on Aug. 24, 2011. The service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home in Belhaven. Burial will follow at Davis Landing Cemetery in Pungo. All friends and family are invited to the Pike Road Community Center immediately following the service for visitation with a light supper provided by friends, family and community.

Davy was born at Pungo District Hospital in Belhaven on Feb. 5, 1953, the youngest son of the late H. Moninger Respess and Aletha Winifred Webster Respess. He graduated from Pantego High School in 1971 and completed the Apprentice Program from Newport News Dry Dock and Shipyard in Virginia in 1975. He then worked at the Shipyard for several years when he and a partner decided to go into business together and opened Murray and Respess Machine Shop in the Newport News area. He later sold his interest in the business and moved back to Pike Road where he purchased the family homestead and where he made his home. He worked for many years as a machinist/planner with Carver Machine Works in Washington, N.C.

With the dream of flying helicopters, Davy enlisted in the Army Reserve completing his basic training as a helicopter mechanic. He was promoted to Private First Class immediately out of basic training as the top student. He then went on with his AIT at Fort Rucker, Ala., obtaining his pilot’s license and realizing his dream by serving as a Huey Helicopter pilot for the Army. He was honorably discharged as a Warrant Officer W-3.

Davy’s love of motors is evidenced in his collections, which include a 1938 Ford Sedan, 1970 Pontiac GTO, several 1960 Chevrolets, a Corvette, a Chevy pickup, a Ford tractor, and even a fighter plane.

He is survived by his brothers: Travis Webster Respess of Kinston and Herman Moninger Respess, wife Marta, of Michigan; his sisters: Marianna R. Heath, husband Forrest, of Pike Road, and Virginia R. Hollowell of Long Acre; his nieces: Amanda Respess, Beth Respess, Anna Elsworth, Gretchen Whitaker, Sandra Ange, Cynthia Stallings, Michele Fontana, Angel Heath, Ginger Stoop and Nikki Gwin; his nephew: Frank Hollowell Jr.; and numerous great-nieces and nephews, cousins and loved ones. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers-in-law Jesse Carter and Frank Hollowell Sr., and his niece Wendi Hollowell.

In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials may be made to the Davis Landing Cemetery, c/o GR Fletcher, 2273 Pike Road, Pantego, NC 27860 or to your favorite local charity.

Condolences to the family can be left at www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Respess family.