David Anthony Grech

David Anthony Grech, long time resident of Columbia, Tennessee, and Michigan born native, passed away peacefully at the age of 75, on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Poplar Estates Assisted Living while surrounded by his loving family. He is now resting in the loving arms of his beloved Lord and Savior. 

Born February 19, 1949, in Highland Park, Michigan to Anthony Louis Grech and Rita Grech, both of Maltese decent, he was the second eldest of six children. He was first employed by The Chrysler Corporation where he proudly purchased his first car, a 1968 Roadrunner of which he was very fond of and spoke about often. After he retired from Chrysler, he was employed with The Coca-Cola Corporation for many years until he accepted an offer working alongside two of his younger brothers at The Hobart Corporation, where he would eventually retire from in Tennessee after transferring to their Nashville office. 

As a child, David’s parents would often take him, along with his five siblings, to beautiful northern Michigan for their family vacations. Once married, he also continued the tradition of vacationing in the same cottage with his own family and children and was fortunate to relocate up state with his family after accepting his job at Hobart. 

Growing up, David loved the outdoors, especially fishing with his father and brothers, where they share numerous and very fond memories together! He loved dogs and at one point bred, sold and trained Beagles to assist in his hunting endeavors. He especially enjoyed making homemade maple syrup, venison jerky, and summer sausages to share. He also had an unforgettable love for cooking and serving authentic Maltese cuisine, and enjoying his favorite foods, such as popcorn, Kogel hot dogs, and especially ice cream! 

You would often find him spending his free time outside, tinkering with his bountiful tool collection in his garage, cleaning his boat, fishing poles, and guns or working under the hood or body of a car. He was a car enthusiast, an excellent handyman, mechanic, and fixer of all things. In his later years, he became very health conscious and began spending a lot of time at indoor gyms around Columbia by regularly attending various spin classes. He also took his passion outdoors by frequently riding his road bike by himself or with groups of friends for miles, upon miles, upon miles. He was a member of the Columbia Cycling Club. 

Most importantly, David’s ultimate priority was his love, faith, hope, and trust in God. He had a deeply rooted and devout upbringing in the Catholic church, then later in his adult life joined the Baptist faith. He continually demonstrated his utmost admirable side by leaving a significantly spiritual and long-lasting impression, on all of those whom he encountered throughout his earthly life. Everywhere David went, he would find a way to share Jesus in public and was never ashamed to do so. He would praise a strangers cross around their neck, comment about a Jesus bumper sticker to someone on their car or make mention about Christian words inscribed on a passerby’s hat or shirt. The setting did not matter, he would always find a way to speak His Father’s name aloud for others to hear, then he would always depart by telling them to, “Have a blessed day”, every single time! If David took his family on vacations, or if they went out of town, he would always find a church for all of them to worship at while they were away from their home church. For many, many years he served faithfully in various roles throughout the churches he attended, such as, driving the church van, or passing out candy to children as he eagerly smiled and greeted them coming through the church doors on Sunday mornings. His servant’s heart also shined at church by being a dedicated volunteer to the Food Pantry Ministry, assisting with the Safety Committee, helping with Vacation Bible Schools, and by teaching an adult, co-ed Sunday School class for numerous years. The Mission’s Ministry was very close to his heart, and he frequently shared about the opportunity of a lifetime when he traveled to Africa on a very special mission trip, just after 9/11. He was a member of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee for twenty years. He received numerous awards from The American Red Cross for the abundant amount of blood donations he supplied throughout his lifetime. 

David was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Rita Grech, his eldest sister, JoAnn (Grech) Sines, and Peggy (Gasser) Pruett, his first wife and mother of his children. 

He loved his family immensely and was extremely proud of those who will carry on and cherish his legacy. 

He is survived by his siblings: Robert and Debbie (Lazenby) Grech of Plymouth, Michigan, Michael and Susan (Wasageshik) Grech of Lake Orion, Michigan, Kenneth and Patty (Dunne) Grech of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Robert and Mary (Grech) Fraquelli of Kingsley, Michigan; his three children: Andrew (Stacy) Grech of White House, Tennessee, Breanna (Robin) Langley, and Rebecca (Jeff) Bauer, both of Columbia, Tennessee; his grandchildren, who lovingly referred to him as “Nanu”: Jacob (Jessica) Grech, Jonathan Grech, Madisyn Tengdin, Walker Grech, Alexander (Baylee) Langley, Abrielle Langley, Adrianna Langley, Eden Bauer, and Emmy Bauer; his three greatgrandchildren: Lincoln Grech, Thea Grech, and Janey Langley; and all of his unforgettable nieces and nephews. 

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church on Saturday, February 22, 2025, with visitation at 9:00-11:00 am and service at 11:00 am with Brothers Maurice Hollingsworth and Bob Vassar officiating. 

The family would like to thank the amazing staff and caregivers at Poplar Estates Assisted Living, along with the exceptional hospice nurses and caregivers at Compassus. They would also like to extend their appreciation to his dearest friends, Bobby Chance and Joel Rodgers. 

David was preceded in death by his very close friend, Joe McCormick. 

Donations may be made in David’s memory to The Mission’s Ministry at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, The Alzheimer’s Association, or The American Red Cross. 

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint". Isaiah 40:31