David Tinney Obituary

David Roy Tinney
July 22, 2025

The Reverend David Roy Tinney passed peacefully on July 22, 2025, at the age of 75, surrounded by his beloved family. Though his body has left this world, his spirit lingers in every photograph that captured overlooked beauty, in every sermon that lit a spark, and in every heart he met with kindness, grace, and conviction.
David was born in Lakewood, Ohio, and from an early age was drawn to what others might pass by: the quiet moments, the sacred ones. First, through the lens of a camera, photographing history, presidents, and everyday people with equal reverence. He worked for two decades as a photojournalist and graphics editor, witnessing the world with empathy and clarity. But in time, simply witnessing wasn’t enough.
He crossed to “the other side of the lens,” as he put it, answering a lifelong call to ministry in the United Methodist Church. Over 23 years, he pastored churches across Washington State, offering not just sermons, but sanctuary. Even in retirement, he continued his ministry as a hospital chaplain, holding space for others in their most vulnerable moments.
Whether on his bike with the words “Grace Happens” fluttering above him, or gently holding a stranger’s hand in a hospital room, David made it his life’s work to remind us all: we are not alone, we are seen, we are loved.
He was married to his best friend, Carol, for 51 years. Together, they raised two children, Bill and Becky, who carry his light forward with their spouses, Kim and Charlie, and grandsons Hunter, Jackson (predeceased), and Trey. To his family, David was a compass, a safe harbor, a fellow adventurer, and a friend.
David taught us to meet the world with curiosity, grace, and gentle courage. He noticed what others missed and loved without pretense. His passing is a deep loss, but his life was a masterclass in how to live with meaning.
In a world that can so easily harden, David softened it. His legacy lives not only in the lives he touched, but in the way he lived with open hands, an open heart, and open eyes.
Let us honor him not only by mourning his absence, but by being more like him: slower to judge, quicker to smile, and always looking for the helpers.
A Celebration of Life will be held on September 6, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Vancouver First United Methodist Church 401 E. 33rd Street, Vancouver, WA 98663.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in David’s memory to Youth in Focus - https://www.youthinfocus.org/donate-now or HOPE Dementia - https://hopedementiasupport.org/donate.
Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits