David Paul Dinwiddie

David Paul Dinwiddie hiked his last mile to the summit of the Mountain that is God’s Kingdom on Thursday, August 29, 2024. He is preceded in death by his father Paul Dinwiddie, stepfather and mother Luke and Dorothy Fagg, Grandparents Esther and Albert Ogelsby and cousin Carl Hensley. 

He is survived by his wife Virginia Dinwiddie, stepdaughter Misty, sons Tracy and William, several brothers and sisters, honorary brother Steve, honorary sisters Shannon and Myrtle, honorary sons Christian and Kyle, many cousins, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

David was a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and was a retired Sergeant of the 844th Engineer Battalion and from the U.S. Army Reserve at McGhee Tyson Air Base. He was also a member of the 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Living History and reenacting unit as their Commissary Sergeant since 2005.

David’s greatest passion was hiking the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. He started when he was a teenager and hiked every trail. He had been to every summit in the Park many times for almost sixty years. He worked for the Park Service for a period of time and was also a guide for the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Team assisting in many successful rescues and recoveries.

David set numerous records between his time in the Smoky Mountains on the trails, logging more miles than other Ridge Runners and while running marathons (and winning many of them) representing the 844th Engineer Battalion and as a private citizen.

David was always generous with his time, experience and knowledge for anyone who met him. He was an encyclopedia of the Smoky Mountain trails which always came with a few interesting stories as well. He never met a stranger and left an impression on anyone who had the pleasure to meet him. 

David has hiked his last Earthly mile and is now hiking God’s Heavenly Trails. 

Friends may visit with the family from 5pm-7pm on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at Mynatt Funeral Home, Fountain City Chapel. A funeral service will immediately follow with Steve Lundberg officiating.

A graveside service will commence at 11am at Pleasant Hill Church Cemetery, 8807 Pleasant Hill Rd, Knoxville, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Smoky Mountain Area Rescue or the 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.

Directions to cemetery: 
From Knoxville: Head east on I-40, take the exit for Asheville Hwy. Turn left onto Arms Rd. The cemetery will be at the corner of Arms Rd and Pleasant Hill Rd.
From the east: Head west on I-40, take exit 402, and merge onto Midway Rd. Turn right onto Thorn Grove Pike. Go 1/2 mile then turn left onto South Carter School Rd. Continue for 2 miles then turn left onto Asheville Hwy. Continue for 1.3 miles then turn right onto Arms Rd. The cemetery will be at the corner of Arms Rd and Pleasant Hill Rd.