Dolly Parton's brother David Wilburn dies at 82 as family pays heartbreaking tribute

David Parton, the older member of euphony icon Dolly Parton, has passed distant astatine the property of 82. 

The somber quality was shared by their sister Stella Parton successful a heartfelt societal media station aboriginal Friday morning, November 15.

'My member David passed distant peacefully this morning,' Stella wrote connected X astatine 5:54 a.m. 'It’s ne'er casual to accidental goodbye to a loved one, but helium got his angel wings and is present astatine peace.'

David Wilburn Parton was 1 of 12 siblings calved to Robert and Avie Lee Parton, a household celebrated for their roots successful Sevier County, Tennessee. 

The Parton children, successful commencement order, are Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Dolly Rebecca, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randel Huston 'Randy,' Larry Gerald, twins Estel Floyd and Freida Estelle, and Rachel Ann, per Dolly's website. 

The household has not released further details astir David’s passing.

Fans rapidly flooded the comments conception with condolences and words of enactment for the Parton family. 

'So atrocious for your loss, and however fortunate helium was to person 2 astonishing sisters,' wrote 1 follower. 

Another shared, 'May his psyche remainder successful bid and whitethorn his representation beryllium with you forever.'

David Parton led a backstage life, steering wide of the fame that defined overmuch of his family’s bequest successful entertainment.

His passing marks the 4th nonaccomplishment of a member successful the Parton family. 

The youngest sibling, Larry, passed distant soon aft his commencement successful 1955. 

Floyd, known for his songwriting talents and originative collaborations with Dolly, died successful 2018 astatine 61. 

Randy, different musically talented sibling who often shared the signifier with Dolly, succumbed to crab successful 2021 astatine the property of 67.

At the time, Dolly took to societal media to mourn Randy.

'The household and I are grieving his nonaccomplishment but we cognize helium is successful a amended spot than we are astatine this time,' she said.

'We are a household of religion and we judge that helium is harmless with God and that helium is joined by members of the household that person gone connected earlier and person welcomed him with joyousness and unfastened arms.'

She went connected to speech astir his talents, calling Randy 'a large singer, writer, and entertainer' who 'sang, played guitar and bass successful [Dolly's] set for galore years.' 

'He headed his ain amusement astatine Dollywood since it opened successful 1986. He's had respective illustration records of his own, but his duet with maine connected Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You volition ever beryllium a item successful my ain career.'

The Parton siblings grew up successful humble beginnings, raised by their parents, Avie Lee and Robert Lee, successful the bosom of the Smoky Mountains. 

Their begetter was a baccy farmer, and the household lived successful a humble one-room compartment successful Locust Ridge, a tract that has since been transformed into a depository honoring their legacy.

Dolly began performing astatine the property of 10 and acceptable her sights connected a euphony vocation successful Nashville. 

In 1964, aft graduating precocious school, she made the determination to Music City, determined to crook her dreams into reality.

Creativity runs heavy successful the Parton family, with respective of Dolly’s siblings pursuing their ain creator paths.

Willadeene became an accomplished author, penning books that delve into the past of the Smoky Mountains and sharing household recipes successful a fashionable cookbook.

Cassie, Stella, and Freida each recovered their footing successful music, though Freida took a antithetic way by embracing punk stone alternatively than country. 

Her duplicate brother, Floyd, besides displayed singular talent, co-writing Dolly’s deed Rockin’ Years.

Rachel Dennison, present 61, ventured into acting, starring successful the sitcom 9 to 5, which aired from 1982 to 1988 and was inspired by Dolly’s deed 1980 movie of the aforesaid name.

Meanwhile, Robert Lee Jr., David, and Coy Denver opted for lives extracurricular the nationalist eye.

The siblings mislaid their father, Robert Lee Parton, successful 2000, and their mother, Avie Lee Parton, successful 2003.