In Memoriam : David Tedford
David Henry Tedford - age: 76
(June 17, 1949 to March 31, 2026 ) Resident of Exeter, California Visitation Information: Burial will take place on Friday, April 17, 2026 at the Bakersfield National Cemetery at 30338 E Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA 93203. A Celebration of Life will be held on April 18, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Visalia, California. Obituary: David Henry Tedford, 76, of Visalia, California, passed away on March 31, 2026, in Fresno, California. David was born on June 17, 1949, in Exeter, California, to Deward Monroe Tedford and Mary Francis Tedford (Duggins). He grew up alongside his siblings, Darrell Tedford and Donna Keeling, and remained deeply connected to Central Valley throughout his life. David proudly served his county in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served as a Specialist 4 with the 2nd Battalion, 50th Infantry, and 2nd Armored Division, and was honorably discharged after earning numerous commendations, including the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars. To the men he served with, David was known simply as “Henry,” a name given to him on his first day when his captain decided there were already too many Davids in the company. From that point on, Henry stuck-and so did the impression he made. Fellow soldiers remembered him for his unmistakable smile, his humor, and his steady presence in the most difficult conditions. In the jungles of Vietnam, he proved himself to be a dependable and level-headed soldier, someone others could rely on when situations turned dangerous. One fellow soldier later recalled lying under heavy fire beside him when David turned and said, “What the hell are we doing here?” – a moment of honesty and humanity in the chaos of war. Though he arrived as a new soldier like everyone else, nervous and unsure, it didn’t take long for his personality to come through. He was described as jovial, boyish, and genuine – never pretending to be something he wasn’t. Over time, he grew into the role of helping others, just as others had helped him, forming bonds that would last a lifetime. David remained deeply connected to his fellow veterans throughout his life and was a proud member of the Central Valley Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard, where he helped provide military honors for fellow veterans. David was a natural smart-aleck- witty, full of life, and never short on personality. He had a way of greeting people with his signature drawn-out, tow-toned “Hello-O” that instantly made you smile. In everyday life, David was known as someone who could fix anything and he usually did. A true jack-of-all- trades and master mechanic, he could take on any problem, whether it was engines, dirt bikes, electronics, or even something entirely new. If it was broken, he’d figure it out. He was also electronically inclined and had a deep understanding of how things worked, no matter how complex. He built the family’s childhood home with his own hands, a lasting example of his skill, determination, and pride in providing for his family. He also had a well-known need for speed. In true David fashion, when he bought his daughter a Camaro with a V8, he decided it needed a proper test run, Telling her he was just taking it into town for a wash, he instead left a trail of sound echoing through the county roads tires spinning and engine roaring. When he returned and was called out for it, he simply said, “Well… sometime you gotta blow the carbon out of it.” His love of speed went even further- at one point in his life, David drove a top fuel dragster, a reflection of his fearless nature and passion for high performance machines He had a deep love for dirt bikes and spent countless hours riding, working on them, and making them his own. If David bought something, it didn’t stay stock for long. It was what his family jokingly called “the David Tedford syndrome”- if he liked it, he bought it… and then made it better. New suspension, paint, graphics, chrome whatever it took. That mindset carried into everything he owned. Some of his happiest times were spent camping in the Mojave Desert with family, where he felt most at home. Above all, David was a steady and protective presence for his three daughters, as well as for his family and friends. He was the one people relied on the one who could solve a problem, fix what was broken, or simply be there when it mattered. He was also a man unafraid to express love and respect to those close to him something that left a lasting impression on many. His sense of humor, independence, and strength defined him. And while he wasn’t above giving the occasional one-finger salute to those who earned it, it was all part of the character people came to known and love. David is servived by his beloved companion, Shirley Trueblood; his daughters, Christie (Heath) Beavers, Amber Tedford ( Adrian Sotello), and Brandy (Jayson) Pratt; his grandchildren, Whitney Heatherly, Brandon Heatherly, and Hailey Torres; and hos great-grandchildren, Brayden Smith, Maddison Smith, Brooklyn Smith, Colt Heatherly, and Deegan Heatherly. He is also survived by his siblings, Darrell Tedford and Donna Keeling, many extended family members and friends, and his beloved dog, Penny. He was preceded in death by his parents, Deward Monroe Tedford and Mary Francis Tedford. David will be remembered for his strength, his humor, his loyalty, and his ability to make anything better than he found, He lived life on his own terms and left a lasting mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. 
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