Gary David

Gary Lee David, 69, peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus, on May 4, 2024 in the care of Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. Gary was born October 10, 1954 to Alfred and Donnalene (MacArthur) David in Bruce, Wisconsin. After graduating from Bruce High School in 1972, he enlisted in the Marines with an aviation tour in Vietnam as a gunnery sergeant. Returning from Vietnam, he moved to Yuma to study Theatre Arts, then transferred to Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff to pursue a Theatre Arts Performance degree, graduating in 1978. In 2009, he earned his master’s degree in business administration from Grantham University while serving in Iraq.

In 1976, Gary met Melanie during a theatre production at Northern Arizona University. They were married April 7, 1979, and were blessed with three (3) children, Ashley, Carrie, and Sean, three (3) grandchildren, and five (5) German Shepherds through the years.

Gary served thirty-six (36) years in the military including Marines, National Guard, and Army. He retired as a colonel from the U.S Army in 2010. Gary was a decorated combat veteran, serving in multiple conflicts including Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Most of his career was spent as a pilot flying Huey, Apache, and Black Hawk helicopters. After his retirement from the military, he became a Senior Technical Aviation Trainer/Site Manager, and traveled to military bases across the U.S to train active-duty pilots from various branches. He was a Paul Harris Fellowship Award recipient, issued an American Citation in 1982 in America’s Who’s Who, was a lifetime member of AAAA, and a financial supporter of the AAAA Educational Foundation-Arizona Chapter.

Gary enjoyed traveling the world with Melanie, his wife/partner/best friend, exploring places within the U.S and Europe. He also enjoyed golfing with his son, Sean, and making homemade ice cream with his granddaughter. Gary loved spending time with his family, and his grandchildren lovingly referred to him as “Papa G.” An avid Packers fan, Gary enjoyed his annual hunting trip to Wisconsin every November and helping his mom with chores and yard work around the family-owned MacArthur Hotel. He was a compassionate pet-owner who loved German Shepherds- a tradition passed down to his children. He was enthralled by the history of war, and toured battle sites like Gettysburg, Iwa Jima, and Little Big Horn- for which he once served as tour docent for several Army generals.

Survivors are his wife of forty-five (45) years, Melanie; three (3) children, Ashley (Michael) McLain of Albuquerque, NM, Carrie (Matthew) Renckly of Omaha, NE, Sean David of Flagstaff, AZ; three (3) grandchildren, Skyla McLain, Olivia and Emma Renckly; mother

Donnalene David of Bruce, WI, and two sisters Vicki (Earl) Monnier of Ladysmith, WI, and Sandra (Bob) Schleicher of Prairie Farm, WI.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred David.

A full military honors Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 11am, Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Canyon Del Oro Bible Church’s Chapel Hall, 9200 N. Oracle Road in Tucson, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Arizona Chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA): How You Can Help (quad-a.org), with Arizona Chapter designation.