W. David Hulsey

Walton David Hulsey the man, the myth, the legend, entered this world on February 8, 1942, to Huel “Rip” Hulsey and Doris Lorraine Davis in Houston, Texas. David was affectionately known as “Butch” as a kid because, after all, who wants to be a 5-year-old “Walton”?? The family moved back to Amarillo, where David was in the first class of Will Rogers Elementary School, attended Horace Mann Junior High, and graduated from Palo Duro High School in the class of 1961. Go Dons!

With no particular direction in life, his mother drove him to his local Navy recruiting office and ordered him out of the car… So he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1964, serving two years in Naval Station Long Beach. He served as a boat captain of a wooden minesweeper vessel despite only being a Seaman. He was honorably discharged in 1966. Go Navy!

David married Janelle Perdue in 1967, and they had two of the most remarkable children: Holly in 1968, who may very well have been his favorite, and Michael James in 1973, his second favorite. Go Tech!

David began a long career as a Plastics Technician at Pantex in 1967. He was known affectionately as “The Plastic Man”. During his time at Pantex, he served as the President of Glass, Molders, Pottery, and Plastics Union Local 404 and he was a member of the Pantex Metal Trades Council. He retired in 2004 after 37 years. Go Union!

He logged endless hours of watching boring plays, musicals, band, choir, & orchestra performances, spelling bees, and other mind-numbing activities… he did it with a proud daddy smile and a big hug.

In 1990, achieving the ultimate goal, he was promoted to Papa. As usual, he gave it all he had and some extra. In the 2000s, he morphed into Pop and was the best Pop that ever was. Pop almost single-handedly won many blue ribbons for his art and science projects, all under the names of his grandchildren! (We may have helped paint here and there.)

He was a master at most crafts, and if he wasn’t, he faked it with an impressive shop, garage, and craft room full of machines and tools. He knew all sorts of trades and could build, sculpt, or renovate almost anything. He built and raced Micro Midget cars from 1974 to 1981 and dedicated many, many, many hours caring for a yellow 1981 Chevy Pickup that he dearly loved. If Pop didn’t have it, he made it. Besides tinkering in his garage, he had many hobbies over the years, including fishing, hunting, golf, gardening, and Amazon Prime ( Buy Now!).

David also loved cheering for Texas Tech, the Dallas Cowboys, and some good ol’ Palo Duro Dons football! Pop was always very direct and honest. He spoke his mind and never sugar-coated anything, so he got kicked off Facebook. A cross between Santa Claus and George Carlin, he enjoyed a good laugh and a good pair of sweatpants.

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at roughly 2 a.m., he shuffled on out of this world, leaving his worn-out earthly body behind and several unopened Amazon boxes. With a kiss on top of your head, and a hug around your neck, we love you, Daddy, and we will miss you so very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his older sister, Huelene Ardoff, and her husband, Roger; his younger sister, Bette Montgomery, and her husband, Jerry; his infant brother, Darrel Lee; and his mother-in-law, Millie Willoughby.

David is survived by his wife, Jan Hulsey, his daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Mark Stone of Amarillo. His son, Michael James Hulsey of Amarillo. His pride and joy, his grandchildren, Bonham Scott (Sydney), Kinsey Bellar (Marcus), Austin Stone, Lori Gregory (Zach), Veronica Hulsey, Abby Lynn Hulsey, and Ava Gregory; and his great-grandchildren, Brennan, Brecken, Millie, and Baby Lyndon, are due in January. His family would like to thank his special friend, Sherry Cross, for caring for him so well.

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow! What a Ride!” Hunter S. Thompson