Gary “David “ Peden, age 79, of Windthorst, Texas, formerly of Joy, Texas, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2026, at his residence after a short battle with cancer.

Services will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday, September 11, 2026, at the First Baptist Church of Archer City with C.J. Frazier, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Larry Miller, Pastor of the Henrietta Cowboy Church and Joe Caballero, Pastor of Montague Cowboy Church, officiating. Interment will follow with military honors in the Joy Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

The family will receive family and friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

David was born February 22, 1947 in Wichita Falls, Texas to the late Carl Wallace Peden and Dorothy Dale Watson Peden. He attended Bowie Schools and then Archer City High School.

David proudly served his country during the Vietnam War from August 1965 until February 1969 in the United States Air Force. After his tour of duty, he returned to Archer City.

He married Laura Threet in February 1967 in Clovis, New Mexico and together they had three children, Amy, Barry and Wendy. He then married Laura Hamill on November 1, 1986 in Wichita Falls and got his bonus daughters, Carla, Anne and Kellie.

David moved to Odessa and was a mechanic on offshore drilling rigs. He returned to Archer City and was employed by Bridwell Oil Company. He then worked in his family business, Peden Tank Truck Service. In 1992, David moved to Joy and was employed by Clay County Precinct 3 until his retirement after 20 years of service. After his retirement, he was self-employed as a rancher and farmer. He later moved to Windthorst.

David enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle. However, his glory days of his life for eleven years was the Red Stegall Wagon Train where he was the head scout. They traveled from Jacksboro to the Fort Worth Stockyards. David was a volunteer fireman for Archer City Volunteer Fire Department and also the Joy Volunteer Fire Department.

David attended First Baptist Church of Archer City, the Henrietta Cowboy Church and the Montague Cowboy Church.

Survivors include daughters, Amy Haynie and husband, David of Midland, Texas and Wendy Schroeder of Lewisville, Texas; Laura Hamill Peden of Archer City; step-daughters, Carla Scrogum and husband, Kevin of Olney, Anne Post and husband, Steve of Abilene, and Kellie Westbrook and husband, Wesley of Gorman, Texas; sister, Carol Waddell and husband, Otis of Arlington, Texas; brother, Danny Peden of Durango, Colorado; fourteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and one on the way; and one great-great-grandson.

He was also preceded in death by his son, Barry Peden on July 29, 2000; sister, Charlotte Starks on May 5, 2017 and one grandson, Carlton Westbrook.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310, the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 756, Archer City, Texas 76351, Henrietta Cowboy Church, 1784 Hwy 287 South, Henrietta, Texas 76365, or the Montague Cowboy Church, 1600 FM 456, Montague, Texas 76251.