Steven Paul Hambrick, born on November 27, 1954, in Gainesville TX, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2024. Steve was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. His presence, integrity, and genuine care touched countless lives.
Steve grew up in Arlington and it was in his sophom*ore year at Arlington High School that he would meet and fall in love with his future wife, Linda. Both heavily involved with the Colt Choraliers, Steve cemented their relationship that October of 1970 at the State Fair of Texas. Their enduring love story spanned five decades and it was on their 50th wedding anniversary that Steve was called home to the Lord.
Steve was a dedicated servant of Jesus Christ. This was evident on his countless acts of service to others as well as faithfully serving in the choir and as Director of the Matthew 22 Sunday school class which Steve viewed as a tight knit and special family. He was proud to be a part of this church family and he prayed countless prayers with and for this special group. He was known for his abundant generosity, purchasing Bibles for others, offering his time and talents and meeting countless needs with a servants heart. Rarely did anyone know just how much Steve was doing behind the scenes as he never asked for recognition, only wanting to serve where needed. He loved beyond the confines of choir and Matthew 22, building special relationships within the church staff and others in the congregation. We will never know how many people Steve prayed over within the walls of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church.
Professionally, Steve was a respected construction manager, having worked for years with David Weekly Homes and most recently for D.R. Horton. His passion for his work was evident in his dedication, his integrity, and his reputation for excellence and quality. He loved to mentor his staff, often giving people their first chance in the industry and teaching and coaching them on their career paths. He formed genuine friendships built on mutual respect and was so proud of these loyal and lasting relationships. It was not uncommon to hear him end a work call with “Ok, love you buddy!” He was endlessly proud of his team and co-workers. He valued and respected every level and interacted with everyone like they were his inner circle. He asked a lot of people and they gave a lot in return because of how honest and free he was with his praise and appreciation. He was invested in the personal lives of those around him and would pray over his coworkers as they lost family members or found themselves in need. His work brought him endless joy and it is because of the value he saw in the people themselves.
Steve’s passion for life was evident and he was a natural leader. If he joined a club, he quickly became the president and that pattern continued throughout his life. He loved skeet shooting, and being a longtime member of both the Grand Prairie Gun Club and Arlington Sportsman’s Club. Steve and Linda loved sports and shared a deep love for all things Texas A&M, football in general and championing their grandson Beau in baseball. He took great care of his home and loved to fill his yard with beautiful flowers for him and Linda to share together. They loved their chocolate lab, G Rollie, who saw it as his job to take care of Steve always and his ashes will be loving buried with Steve so they can continue to take care of each other.
Steve loved his family so well. He wanted to know every detail about his girls, their husbands and their children. He was known as Dad, Pop, or Uncle Steve to countlessly more people than to whom he was actually related. Steve was always meant to be a girl dad and wore the role proudly. He inspired his family, he challenged them and gave an exceptional example in what it was to lead a family, be a loving husband and establish a Christ-centered home. He tried to make every play, game, recital or special event for his kids and grandkids even if it meant he would have to work late into the night. He taught and led his sons-in-law and welcomed them as sons to his family. He would play guitar with his grandkids, play with their toys, listen to their stories, meet their friends and laugh with them for hours on end. He was next to them for their first roller coaster rides, meeting their favorite Disney characters, heading out for prom and everything in between. No one had to wonder in Steve’s family if they were loved by him, it was evident in every single moment spent together, even the ones spent with him asleep “watching” the game. Steve was always open with his praise and his “I love you’s,” even to a brand new son in law or a daughter who had just really stepped out of line.
Steve’s larger than life personality was unforgettable and one of a kind. He had an infectious laugh, was usually the loudest in the room (or even the next room), and truly had an inability to ever bring himself down to a whisper. He loved “dad” jokes, laughed heartily at his own and everyone else’s jokes and was always up for a good story. He was just as gentle, loving, and protective as he was jovial and boisterous. He was a constant collector of shoes, watches, guitars, guns, and even (as his friends and family already know), his Duluth underwear. Steve’s life proves that he was proud of the big and the small and everything that happened in between. The only hard thing to do when talking about Steve Hambrick is knowing when to stop because it will never seem like enough.
Steve is preceded in death by his father Clifford Benjamin Hambrick and his father and mother in laws, Bobby Gene and Martha Ann Miller. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Linda and their children Holly and husband Stephen Lang and Simmie and husband Ashton Myers as well as grandchildren Aubrey, Anna, Beau, Hensley and Adalynn. He is also survived by his mother Janice Hambrick, sister Cindy and husband Mark Graves and their family as well as in laws Mindy and Gary Oden and Phil and Sharon Miller and their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by those he mentored, loved and prayed over and his influence will forever be growing.
