David (Dave) T. Tally

David T. ( Dave) Tally, age 76, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026 at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, DE after many years of coping with Alzheimer's.

He was born March 13, 1950 in Raleigh, NC to Dorothy Ellen Spears Tally and  David Kenneth Tally. He now joins his parents as well as his sister and brother in law, Susan & Alan  Leonard, in eternal rest. 

He leaves behind his loving wife of 38 + years, Fay Tally, his brother William "Ted" Tally (Melinda) of PA, a nephew, Austin Tally (Diana) of MD, a niece, Amanda Tally(Peter) of NJ, a nephew, William Leonard  of AZ, twin nieces, Caroline Leonard-Butler (Casey) of NC, Sarah Leonard of NY, and his beloved little dog, Essie.

After graduating high school he attended and graduated from Appalachian State College which he always referred to as " Happy Appy".  He received a BA in secondary art education  but was not keen on pursuing the profession of teaching after he taught  for a short time in Winston- Salem, NC. 

However, he loved the NC mountains,  and although he lived in DE from 1974 - 2026 he always claimed he was from NC and that NC was his home. 

In 1974, the United States Air Force brought him to DE where he served from 1974 - 1978 at the Dover Air Force Base in Dover, DE. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force he obtained a 2nd degree in economics from the then Delaware State College. Upon graduation from Del State he pursued employment with State Farm Insurance as a claims adjuster with the auto industry. He also served as a insurance arbitrator  for the insurance commissioner's office for the State of DE.

In 1987, he married the love of his life, Fay. They lived and worked in DE until 2007 when they moved  to FL. From 2007- 2013, they enjoyed the warm weather, traveling  extensively all over the Sunshine State via one of Dave's many motorcycles or cars. He was a great collector of things  and had 72 cars and 8 motorcycles over his 38 years of  marriage. 

Dave also had an extensive (700+) ornamental/ decorative pig collection. There was a requirement of them to be free standing and realistic—nothing cutesy, although a few cute pigs were snuck in from favorite friends. This collection started many years ago when his artistic mother carved a realistic  pig from a piece of maple wood—with a grape vine curl for a tail. 

He had a fond gravitation towards award winning duck decoys, european ink pens, cigars and watches. He also loved well made clothes and shoes. 

After he retired, Dave and Fay moved back to DE in 2013, where Dave discovered a passion for photography. He most enjoyed photographing landscapes, wildlife, sunrises and sunsets at area wild life refuges in DE, FL, MD, NJ and PA. His favorite subject for photographing were bald eagles and foxes.  He won several awards for his pictures—one was selected to be the cover picture on the 2020 DE Fishing Guide. He  was also asked by the Governor's office to provide one of his landscape pictures  for  the front of the budget note book in 2019.  

Dave loved his family, and although you may not have had the opportunity to meet them, when talking with Dave he made sure you knew who they were, what special traits they had,  and how much they meant to him.

Dave, may you find Peace in eternal rest as your family mourns and misses you.

Dave has chosen to be cremated with his ashes to be scattered in the mountains of NC.  At his request there will be no service.

Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com

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