David Lee Overman

David Lee Overman of Brevard passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at the V.A. Medical Center in Asheville.

David was born on January 11, 1942 to Thurman David and Sarah Louise Baker Overman of Canton, NC. As a young man, he was sharp and capable. His brother Michael remembers one busy Friday night David was working as a carhop at Charley's Drive-In after a football game. He took orders from several cars back-to-back. Noticing this, a kid asked him why he wasn't writing the orders down. He replied, “Why? Are they going to forget what they ordered?” He graduated from Canton High School and went to work for the Enka plant before being drafted into the Army. He re-enlisted at the end of his draft at the rank of Staff Sergeant E-6, serving his country with pride and honor. After the Army, he went to work at Champion Paper. Young and handsome, seeking more out of life and willing to do the hard work required to have it, he left that factory job, joined a church, got married and started a family, and began his own successful business painting houses, which he continued until his retirement.

Dad was a man of tradition, of duty and honor, of God and country, of community, home, and family. He was good-natured, generous, and fair-minded, and was well-liked in return. It never occurred to him to complain, be bitter or resentful, or abandon his post. He taught by example to enjoy the simple pleasures: good country music, conversation with a friend or loved one, a home-cooked meal, a job well-done, a letter received, taking his family out to a restaurant, an evening spent on the porch watching the night skies, flying a kite with his son. He loved his children tremendously and sacrificed a great deal of his life to provide for us. He also served his community with dedication as Commander of American Legion Post 88 in Brevard for six years. He created the eternal flame POW memorial that you can find there and considered it a life's work to have honored those veterans whose terrible sacrifice he held in such high regard. He lived in western NC all his life, and thought it was the most beautiful, and the very best place to raise a family.

David is preceded in death by his mother and father, Thurman and Louise, as well as sister Rebecca “Becky” Smith. Left to carry on his legacy and memory are his children Jonathan, Jeanne-Marie Galeano, and Jennifer Preuss; brother Michael Overman, along with all their families, including five grandchildren—Rohan, Audra, Kora, Ethan, and Sophia—who he was so proud of, several nieces and nephews, as well as a slew of cousins.

There is no planned service, at Dad's request. Instead, he'd be pleased if you pick one of those wonderful “simple pleasures” and share it with someone you love, or visit the beautiful Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, where he will be interred. Please share your condolences, memories, or photos on the tribute page. One last word from Dad, as he would often say, “Fight the good fight!”

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