Harland David Sims

Harland David Sims

April 19, 1938 to July 21, 2021

Harland David Sims was born in Lingleville to Hugh Thomas and Edna Odeal Sims. He grew up and graduated high school in Lingleville and went on to serve in the U.S. Army National Guard. David married Yvonne Jeanette Robison on January 20, 1962 at Pony Creek Baptist Church in Erath County, and together they made their home in Arlington, Texas until her death on May 2, 2004.

David and Jeanette had two children, Jeffrey David Sims, who passed away on April 26, 2018; and Janice Dianne Richey. David is also survived by Janice’s husband, John Richey, and their children, Jacob Richey, Jeremy Richey, and their nephew, Lucas Richey.

David worked as a machinist at Menasco Aerospace until his first retirement, then worked at Bell Helicopter until his second retirement. He always wanted to work at Bell, so when the opportunity came along, he couldn’t resist. He loved antique cars and enjoyed restoring and tinkering with them. He would sit in his driveway and listen to the car’s engine hum and rev. He loved old country music and especially Willie Nelson. He would sing along and play his guitar. He loved visiting Colorado and snow skiing.

David was a devout Christian and regularly attended church at Rehobeth Baptist Church.  When he moved to Paradise, Texas to be near his daughter, he would still drive an hour to Arlington so he could be with his church family.

He was the nicest man you could know and would do anything he could to help you. He never met a stranger and if you ever spoke with him, he considered you his ‘good friend.’ He didn’t speak negatively about anyone. He always looked for the silver linings in life.

He was never in a hurry; he drove slow, walked slow, and his favorite saying was “I’ll do that when I get time.”

He loved ‘visiting’ with family and friends even though this mainly meant that he listened—he didn’t say a lot and rarely asked questions. He always said that if someone wanted him to know something they’d tell him; he didn’t need to ask. He loved spending time with his family and his grandkids, especially. His favorite thing to do was go out to eat with his family. His favorite food was ice cream, and especially homemade peach ice cream.

A perfect day for David would have been to sleep late, drive his old T-bird with the top down blaring Willie Nelson’s “You Were Always on My Mind” to a country café and have dinner with Janice, John, and the kids, then go home and eat two big cups of ice cream.

The family will host a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2021, at the Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel with a reception to follow of his favorites: chocolate cake and ice cream. In lieu of flowers, next time you go out to eat, anonymously buy dinner for someone else. He wanted to spread happiness and will be smiling when you all spread joy in his memory.

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