UPDATE: A widow’s poignant farewell to her husband unfolded like a cinematic rally call as she guided his hearse with rally-style directions. Lynda Leigh directed the funeral car to the crematorium for her late husband, David Henry Stephens, who tragically died in a plane crash on July 15, 2025, over the Snowy Mountains.
In a display of love and strength, Lynda recalled calling out instructions like a rally navigator: “Straight on, left, right, crest, 100 metres, don’t cut.” Despite a near mishap where the driver almost missed the entrance, Lynda found it a fitting tribute to David, a passionate motorsport lover. “I could hear him laughing,” she said, reflecting on the bittersweet moment.
David, described by Lynda as “a knight with a calculator,” was not only a devoted husband but also a skilled pilot and accountant. His life was marked by generosity and adventure, tragically cut short during a flight. Lynda, holding his wedding ring, expressed her wish to remember him for his life and achievements, rather than the tragedy of his death. “He should be remembered for what he did and how he lived, not how he died,” she emphasized to ACM’s Bega District News.
Born on November 11, 1952, in Camperdown, NSW, David’s early life was shaped by a military family background. He attended The King’s School and was conscripted for the Vietnam War, where he flew gunships for the U.S. due to his exceptional flying skills. After returning, he graduated and had a successful career as a mining engineer and accountant, running his own practice for over two decades.
The couple’s love story began in 2013 when Lynda sought accounting advice, unknowingly falling for David’s charm. “He was my accountant, which was quite naughty,” she chuckled, recalling his flirtatious demeanor. Their bond deepened over shared interests, including a love for rally racing and a mutual experience with hearing aids.
For the past decade, they shared a life in Brogo, NSW, where they dreamt of helping rural Australia with David’s flying skills. However, a stage four kidney cancer diagnosis shifted their plans. After a five-year battle with cancer, David regained his flying credentials, fulfilling his dream of becoming a pilot again.
On that fateful day in July, Lynda recalled the last moments they shared. After dropping him off for a flight, she realized he had forgotten his water bottle and made a quick U-turn to deliver it, illustrating the care she had for him. “He said, ‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ and I said, ‘Of course I do, I’ve got to take care of you,’” she remembered with a mix of pride and sorrow.
In a heart-wrenching tribute, Lynda revealed David’s last message to her before his flight: “Look up.” Each plane that passed became a reminder of their love story. “That was my man and his plane,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
Lynda’s dedication to preserving David’s memory shines through in her efforts to share his story, urging others to remember the joy he brought to life, rather than the tragedy of his passing. “He got to be a pilot, he got his own plane,” she said, emphasizing the importance of living one’s dreams.
As the community mourns the loss of David Henry Stephens, Lynda’s heartfelt journey serves as a reminder of the enduring power of love and the memories that bind us, even in the face of devastating loss.
