David Lee Alderton, 58, of Collierville passed away peacefully July 14, 2013. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20th, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3 p.m., all at Collierville Funeral Home, 534 West Poplar. David was born August 19, 1954, in Washington, D.C. to Joyce Conner and David Alderton, Sr. A thoughtful, kind man with a great sense of humor, David endeared all who met him in his life. As a youth, David spent much of his time outdoors becoming an Eagle Scout and working as a lifeguard. David graduated from Hayfield High School in 1971. He worked in construction after high school, and after two years he enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University. After two years there, he transferred to the University of California, Berkley, where he earned his first degree in Psychology. Three years later, including time-spent teaching at Boston University, David finished his Masters of Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. During his time in graduate school, David’s roommate, Garth Ringheim, introduced him to his soon-to-be wife, Nyla Ringheim. On September 28, 1985 he married Nyla Ringheim and they were lifelong partners, married 27 years. A year after their marriage, David completed his doctorate in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. After earning his P.H.D David began work as a scientist for the Navy, working in San Diego at the personnel research laboratory. On December 18, 1992 David and Nyla welcomed the birth of their twin sons Austin David and Conner Lee. In 1993 David accepted an offer from (CDC) Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA to provide scientific research on the country’s HIV outbreak and moved his family to Lilburn, GA. In 1998 the Navy successfully lured him back offering him a research position and later as director in Millington, TN at Navy Personnel Research, Studies, and Technology (NPRST). He subsequently moved his family to Collierville, TN. David was a loving father and eagerly immersed himself with pride into his sons’ schools and sporting events, never missing their practices, games, or school programs. He loved being an assistant coach for his sons’ recreational baseball team. He was a regular fan in the bleachers for the Collierville AAU Dragons basketball team, and a supporter for the Memphis Grizzlies and Tigers. David’s hobbies included reading (always a book in his hands), watching sports, bird watching, taking walks through Johnson Park, and driving around town with his beloved dogs Caleb and Lucky. He is preceded in death by his son Conner, mother Joyce Baggott, grandparents and father-in-law Loren Ringheim. He is survived by wife Nyla (nee Ringheim), son Austin; father David (Glenn) Alderton of Montgomery, AL; mother-in-law Marilyn Ringheim of Mankato, MN; stepfather Henry Baggott of Mankato, MN; siblings Sean (Reva) Baggott of Mankato, MN; Terry (Maria) Alderton of Micco, Florida; Sharon (John) Wakefield of Alexandria, VA; Ellen Alderton of Washington, D.C ; Margo Alderton, Candice (Mark) Soulier of Stafford, VA; sister-in-law Debra (James) Holmseth of Mankato, MN; brother-in-law Garth Ringheim of Belle Mead, NJ; as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in David’s memory may be made to the Fayette County Animal rescue at www.FayetteFCAR.com or a cancer organization of choice. Collierville Funeral Home (901) 853-2628
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