David Lundquist

News Obituary Article

DULUTH: David Lundquist, 71, 'keenly intelligent man'

By KAY POWELL

David Lundquist's keen mind kept him jumping from one interest to another, all of which he got to try firsthand.

His 20-year Air Force career prepared him to be a warfare strategist for Lockheed Martin's Marietta facility. Laid off after three years, he pursued another interest working for a travel agency. When heart ailments curtailed his activities, the political science major became a volunteer in Republican Congressman John Linder's 2002 campaign.

"He was understated but a keenly observant man, a keenly intelligent man," said his friend David Railey of Duluth.

The memorial service for David Alan Lundquist, 71, of Duluth is 3 p.m. today at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church. He died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at St. Joseph's Hospital. The body will be cremated. Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

While in the Air Force, Mr. Lundquist did work for NATO, served two tours in Vietnam and was trained as an electronics intelligence officer. After retiring from the Air Force, he had difficulty finding another job, said his wife, Jean Lundquist.

"Every place told him, 'You're over educated, you're over educated, you're over educated,' " said his wife. "He had a terrible time. We came down here to play grandparents, and he got the job at Lockheed."

His brother, Tom Lundquist of Marietta, who worked with him at Lockheed, said, "He was an Air Force electronics intelligence officer and brought that expertise to Lockheed for their warfare strategy. And, he did antenna work on various aircraft."

After three years sitting at a computer devising warfare strategies for Lockheed, Mr. Lundquist was laid off. Through Lockheed's retraining program, he was hired as a travel agent with Travel Inc. after being out of work for almost a year.

"I wanted to get out of the technical field," Mr. Lundquist said in a 1989 article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "A lot of places won't hire you when you're my age."

"He was not about to be put down," said his wife.

He underwent heart bypass surgery and eventually was on oxygen part of each day. That did not slow him down from attending all his grandsons' ball games nor quell his interest in politics. He volunteered at Rep. Linder's campaign headquarters, calling voters. "He just loved it," said his wife.

In his youth, he was a champion sailer and played the cornet and trumpet, said his brother.

"He had a wicked sense of humor and enjoyed practical jokes," his brother added. "He was a good emcee at Air Force events and other events. He was very personable."

Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Starr Hoback of Duluth; a son, David A. Lundquist Jr. of Boston; and two grandsons.

© 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution