David B. Dickinson, age 79, of Perla, died Sunday, July 19, 2026 at his residence. He was born in Little Rock on June 28, 1947 to the late Alfred “Tip” Dickinson and Lennie Lawrence Dickinson. Reared and receiving his early education in Carthage, he retired from Reynolds Metals after 25 years with the company. David attended Cypress Methodist Church. He was an avid turkey hunter and fisherman. David had a great sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He always had good stories to tell to anyone willing to listen. He thought of himself as the nicest a-hole you would ever want to meet! His sister, Linda Smoke, shares these thoughts: “After Mom went to work at Levi Strauss (when Marvin went to school), David became our psuedo-mom and ran our household. He was the “Mom” after Mom went to work and until she got home from work. He got us ready for school and on the bus, and in the afternoon he made sure we did our chores and got our homework done before Mom got home. He usually cooked supper, or at least had it started until I got big enough to do it.” His grandsons, Hunter and Fisher were his accomplices to his many ingenious ideas.  He always put them to work, somehow or another.  David was a friend to many and will be missed.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Sisson Dickinson; by his children, Tina Morgan, Toni Reynolds, and Elizabeth Dickinson, all of Malvern; a brother, Marvin Dickinson of Rogers, Arkansas; a sister, Linda Smoke of Hot Springs; nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; and by his dog, Bocephus, (also an a-hole).

David was also preceded in death by a brother, Leo Dickinson, and a great-grandchild, Kori Thornton.

His funeral will held on Friday morning, July 24, 2026, at 10:00 in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Charlie Woods officiating. Interment will follow in the Cypress Cemetery at Willow. A visitation will precede the service, beginning at 9:00.

Pallbearers are: Hunter Adams, Fisher Adams, Dusty Walton, Wes Lemons, John McBride, and Keith Starkey.

Special thanks go to Dr. Bollen, Dr. Kota, and Gentiva Hospice workers, Megan and Trista.

In lieu of flowers, do something kind for a stranger, and lift a glass of your favorite libation in David’s memory.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.