DAVID FORD
LEMONS, 65
WINTER HAVEN - David Ford Lemons, 65, of Winter Haven, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 21, 2013 due to cancer. He was born on April 6, 1947 at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. He attended the Greenfield Village School, Dearborn, MI, thru the 3rd grade before his family moved to North Miami Beach before settling in Winter Haven in 1958.
He was a graduate of WHHS Class of '65 and the University of South Florida with a B.A. Degree in Geography. During his high school and college years he was a drummer with the Mischief Makers and the Spades. He served in the Army National Guard of Florida and was a Reserve of the Army. He was Honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant in 1976 after 6 years of service. David had a love of flying from a very young age and at the age of 16 he earned his solo flying license in his fathers J-3 Cub. From 1972 - 1975 he flew commercial light aircraft flight instructing, charters, small cargo and corporate. He continued on with his career flying for Air Sunshine Inc. in Key West, FL and Aero Virgin Islands Inc. in St Thomas, VI as a DC-3 Captain. In 1977 he was hired by National Airlines which was taken over by Pan American World Airways where he was First Officer on B-727 until 1991 when Pan Am went out of business. David went on to fly for Alaska Airlines where he retired as a B-737 Captain in 2007. In his retirement he had fun playing golf, snow skiing, and riding his motorcycles.
David was predeceased by his mother Carol "Tootsie" Bryant Lemons, niece of Henry Ford, his father William "Buck" Brewer Lemons, II, and brother William "Bill" Brewer Lemons, III. He is survived by his brother Bob (Jan), sons David Ford Lemons, Jr., (Laura), Marine Lance Corporal Caleb Daniel Lemons, daughter Mary-Elizabeth Carol Lemons, grandson Daniel Rhys Lemons, niece Kathryn "Katy" Lemons Smith (Brian), nephew William "Buck" Lemons IV, stepson Jonathan Winfree (Jamie), and his faithful, loving partner Patricia Gessler Forum.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Church of the Redeemer, 1410 Dundee Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884, Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 10 AM.
In lieu of flowers it was David's request that donations may be made to the Sweet-Savant Scholarship Fund at the Church address.
Published in Ledger from Apr. 1 to Apr. 2, 2013
