David Alan Hart

David Alan Hart, 76, of Bluffton, SC, left this earthly home on Friday, November 21, 2025, 6 weeks after his diagnosis of glioblastoma (brain cancer) to go fix the universe as only David could.

He was born on February 23, 1949 in Danville, IL, to Elmer and Betty (Huddleson) Grimes. His birth father died of polio when he was three and Betty remarried when he was 8. Gene Hart adopted him and his 2 older brothers and 1 younger sister. He was raised in Peoria, IL and graduated from Woodruff High School. David enlisted in the US Navy in June of 1969 and was honorably discharged May, 1972.

David married Leslie J Jones in Washington, IL on a snowy January 9, 1971. This January would have been their 55th anniversary. They have 3 children: Keri Hart Lusher of Pekin, IL; Brian (Carrie) Hart of Bluffton, SC; and Brad Hart of Bluffton, SC. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren: Kaitlyn Hart Gardner of Las Vegas, NV, Ethan (Gabby Mutchler) Hart Gardner of Mackinaw, IL, Emma Lusher of Bloomington, IL, Allie Hart Lusher of Pekin, IL, Andrew Hart and Bryson Hart, both of Bluffton, SC, and Magnolia and Iris Hart of Orange Beach, AL.

David also leaves behind his 6 siblings: Gene (Barb) Hart, Steve Hart, Mike (Gloria) Hart, Jo Ann (Walter) Woodrum, Jacki (Mike Jordan) Hart, and Troy (Deb) Hart. He is also survived by brothers-in-law Mike Jones and Jeff Jones and sister-in-law Lynn Ahart, and a host of friends across the miles.

He was a full-time tinkerer even as a child, taking weights out of his mother’s curtains to use while fishing, and later fixing the family vehicles, rebuilding machines, leveling tables in restaurants.

David retired at 53 from O’Neill Brothers Transfer, Peoria, IL, as a mechanic and driver. He then remodeled homes and built decks that withstood Illinois tornadoes.

After moving to SC in 2005, he built a 3600sf home. He was a forestry warden for SC Forestry Commission, retiring in 2022, and then worked for Tree Wise Men until health issues forced him to slow down. He assisted Leslie in numerous Pratt Library and BTFD projects, always behind the scenes and contributing more than anyone knew.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March, 14, 2026 (location tbd) and military services and internment will be held at Beaufort National Cemetery 10:00a.m. Monday, March 16, 2026. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Glioblastoma Foundation (glioblastomfoundation.org), Bluffton Self Help (blufftonselfhelp.org), Bluffton Firefighter Foundation (blufftonfirefoundation.org), or the donor’s preference.