David Duart Obituary

(09/11/2003) Ret. Col. David Duart Retired Colonel David Duart, United States Air Force, passed away Wednesday, September 10, 2003, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on December 25, 1934, to Dean and Maude Duart and spent his entire childhood living on the mountain in Windfall, PA. David joined the Air Force after graduating from high school. He met Helen Edwards in Phoenix, Arizona while learning to fly jets. They married August 4, 1956. While living all over the world, they had three children, Pam born in the states, Brian in Okinawa and Susan in Germany. In October of 1966 he left for his assignment in Vietnam. His fighter plane was shot down on February 17, 1967. David was declared a prisoner of war and returned to his family on March 4, 1973, leaner, head full of white hair, and very proud of his service to this country. He retrained in Texas to again fly jets, attended the Army War College in Carlisle, PA., and was deputy commander of maintenance of the F16 Squadron in Utah. David retired a Colonel in the United States Air Force after serving 26 years. He became a flight instructor for Flight Safety International in Tucson, Arizona for eight years. He and Helen retired in 1988 and traveled all over the country in their RV visiting their numerous friends and family. They moved to Sun City one year ago. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Maude Duart; parents-in-law, Cecil and Anne Edwards; brother, Thomas; brothers-in- law, Richard Finnerty, C. Robert Wright, Charles Synesaul; and nephew, Robert Wright. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Helen; daughters, Pam Rosen and husband, Joel of San Antonio, Susan Eagan of Las Vegas, Nevada; and son, Brian of San Francisco, California; five grandchildren, Zackery, Joshua, and Elise Anne Rosen of San Antonio, Brodie and Shain Eagan of Las Vegas; sisters, Sharon Finnerty, Janice Wright, Jeanne Duart and Patricia Knights and her husband, Alan, all of Troy, Pennsylvania; and many other relatives and friends. The family will receive guests for visitation from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2003, at Cook-Walden/Davis Funeral Home of Georgetown. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 12, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Cook-Walden/Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown with Chaplain Dean Hamilton officiating. A military graveside service will be held on Monday, September 15, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio with full military honors. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.cookwalden.com He was a patriot of his country and we will always remember him. For those that desire memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2433 Ridgepoint Drive Suite B, Austin, TX 78602. Cook-Walden/Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512) 863-2564