David H. Davanay

1940 - 2021

A soldier, a warrior, a patriot and a hero, David Hugh Davanay, CW4 (Ret.) lost his battle to congestive heart failure on July 14th, 2021. He and the love of his life Carol had just celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary. David was born on July 17, 1940 to Mary Smith Davanay and W.C. "Dub" Davanay in Baytown, Texas. David is survived by his wife Carol; his son Shawn; daughter-in-law Karen; his beloved 'grandgirls' Katie and Lilly; his daughter Melissa; his brother and sister Scott and Lisa; his stepmother Mignon Davanay Milby; his sisters-in-law Ann Johnson and Connie Boswell; and his brother-in-law Bob Johnson. Deceased are David's parents, W.C. (Dub) and Mary Smith Davanay; his adopted parents, Jim and Eunice Fielder; and David and Carol's daughter, Mary Brooks Davanay.

David joined the US Air Force in 1959, first as a B-52D tail gunner and then transitioned to the AC-47 "Puff the Magic Dragon" gunship and who, along with the entire crew, earned the Distinguished Flying Cross during his first tour in Viet Nam and later in his career, The Soldier's Medal. Wanting to fly, David was accepted into the US Army's Warrant Officer Candidate program and helicopter pilot training. David returned to Viet Nam as a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter pilot where he flew Medivac, rescue and reconnaissance missions. Over his career, David earned 38 Air Medals, wore his Master Aviator wings proudly and retired in 1993 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. David graduated from William Carey College through the Military's "boot strap" program and he received his M.S. from Florida Institute of Technology.

David's extensive "family of choice" meant the world to him and Carol – especially oldest friend John "Sonny" and Cheryl King and military 'brothers" Ralph Larson and his wife Carol and "Mad Jac" Reeves and his wife Minnie. He leaves behind great friends Jeff and Jo Bell; Eric Scheid; and Harold and Amy Huber. David LOVED gun shows and the Lafayette Gun Club. David and Carol made lifelong friends there with Jim and Linda Tolbert, Stanley Binder and John and Linda Hutcheson among many others. In recent years, he cherished the friendships and love of his "ROMEOs" – Roger Healey and Mark Chandler; Bob and Beth Krasche; Larry Muenickhausen and his wife Karen Conner; Steve and Joyce Henry; Tom and Debbie Pack; Vince and Diane Rausch; and Mark Hesse and his wife Julia. The Romeos have been and continue to be an extraordinary help to both David and Carol.

David was a Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Texas and in Japan, David became a 32nd Degree Mason of The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Lodge of the Pacific. David was a trustee of the Virginia War Museum; a range officer at Lafayette Gun Club; a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association; a lifetime member of the Viet Nam Helicopter Pilots Association and he donated his time and money to the Woman's Club of Newport News and the City Center Warwick Rotary Club. The family sincerely thanks Dr. Charlie Vaughan and his PA, Linda Jiang; Dr. Jeffrey Harris and his nurse Donna; and Brittany Frost, his visiting nurse, and Jennifer Maritz who was with him in the end.

There will be a memorial service honoring David's life Saturday, August 21st beginning at 10:00 am at the Hilton Christian Church at 100 James River Drive, Newport News, VA. Should you wish to make a donation in David's name, David supported the Wounded Warrior Project.