Roll Call Tribute

David Lynn Harkins 
May 3, 1961 - February 27, 2023

With great sorrow but everlasting gratitude, the Harkins family share the passing of our beloved David Lynn Harkins on Monday, February 27, 2023, at the age 61 after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

When David’s parents announced their pregnancy, his great grandmother made a declaration of her own: ”His name will be David and he will be much loved”.

David Lynn Harkins was born May 3, 1961, to Raymond & Donna Harkins and it became quickly apparent that Grandma would be the first of many to welcome David with “much love”. The family of 3 lived in Garland, Texas throughout David’s public education, where he graduated from South Garland High School in 1979. Summers were, however, spent happily with his Grandmother and Grandfather on their acreage in the country catching squirrels, fishing, horseback riding, and enjoying every minute he could outside.

This outdoor enthusiasm led David to his bachelor’s degree of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University in 1984.

While in college, David accepted Christ as his Savior. This was, of course, the best decision ever.

David joined the family commercial painting contracting business, RL Harkins, Inc. in 1986, working alongside his father and mother. He started as a superintendent, quickly moved to project manager and by 2019 upon the retirement of his mother, David stepped into running all day-to-day operations. Always wanting to improve the operations of the business, David developed a spreadsheet application to optimize existing estimating technology. This program is still being used in the industry today.

In 1991 and 1993, David became a father to Dustin and Alissa. He cherished being a father and he made every effort to be a consistent parent who led by example. He was, as we all knew him: gentle, thoughtful and loving...raising the children with warmth and humor. He tried to mirror the love of God with his kids.

In 2007, anyone who knew David would have noted the change he underwent upon “meeting his match” and falling in love with Mindy. A love story for the ages, their bond was unbreakable. In Poetry, Texas, they built their dream home and true to their love story, named it “Our Turn”. They were married on their property in 2014.

David committed to changing his lifestyle a bit…taking off work and spending the occasional long weekend with Mindy. They loved adventure and traveled near and far, always with their cameras and always enjoying God’s creations together.

David’s interests remained centered around God, family and nature.

He was an avid bowhunter and was an active and respected member of TexasBowhunter.com. David also enjoyed having a camera in his hand, teaching Mindy about photography and his love of nature. Birds were a passion, as can be seen in many of his photos.

But, more than birds, David loved capturing images of his grandchildren. Gavin, Grayson, Vivian, and Travis knew their “PawPaw” to always have a camera pointed at them as they played and explored around Our Turn.

David was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Harkins, uncle Michael Acosta and cousin Rocky Acosta. He is survived by his wife Mindy; son Dustin Harkins and daughter-in-law Laura; daughter, Alissa Glover and son-in-law Russell; and grandchildren Gavin, Grayson, Vivian and Travis. Mother, Donna Harkins. In-laws, Bob and Phyllis Staggs, Kelly & Billy Navarre. Aunts, cousins and so many others who were family by marriage and by blood.

There are no words to express how grateful and blessed we are to have had so many friends and family who loved David through the years.

His grandmother was right. David was, indeed, much loved. Although the glioblastoma took him from this world, David’s spirit and love for Jesus will remain strong.

When peace, like a river attendeth my way

When sorrow like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

As David had a heart for nature and children, the family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Texas Junior Anglers (TJA). TJA is a non-profit organization with a mission of introducing children 16 and under to the great outdoors, conservation and the sport of fishing. Donations can be made to our friend Jeff who runs the program via PayPal at Jeff@texasjunioranglers.org or mailed to their office at 5017 Willow Park Arlington, Texas 76017.