David A. Smith

David A. Smith, age 69, of Naperville, IL passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at Edward-Elmhurst Heart Hospital.

David leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Katrina (Tinsley); his brother, Jack Patrick McGowan; his sister, Gayanne Skubec; his sister, Annette Marshall; his uncle, William Perry; his niece, Angie Spears and his cousin, Marilyn Knox.  David was predeceased by his father, Jack Claud Smith; his mother, Janice Mae Patrick; his stepmother, Delores Lillian Smith; brother, Mark Taber and niece; Staci Brown.

David was born on November 19, 1951 in Antioch, California.  After graduating from Castro Valley High School in 1970, David was off to attend the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and graduated with honors in 1975 with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He then attended flight school at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in Florida and went on to achieve his boyhood dream of becoming a Navy pilot.  He flew several tactical Jets (A-4 Skyhawk, F-4 Phantom and F-14), became a Naval Test Pilot and was the very first Navy Pilot to fly the F/A-18 Hornet (back when McDonnell Douglas had built only 4 of them).  David was a US Naval Officer (O-5).  After serving 20+ years of active duty, he served in the Naval Reserves and achieved the rank of COMMANDER and was the Commanding Officer of VP-63, an Anti-Submarine Patrol Squadron based in Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.

David received his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the US Naval Post Grad School in Monterey, CA and received his MBA at Syracuse University.  He was also an Entrepreneurial Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh.  After David left active duty, he started his business career at General Electric in Syracuse, NY.  After 14 years at GE, he set out to manage companies and did that for the remainder of his career.  He served as President & Chief Executive Officer and President & General Manager for several companies; Quixote Corporation, Sensytech Inc., Amphenol, Inc., Metal Storm, Ltd., EMS Technologies, Inc., Optellios, Inc., Morey Corporation and IAC Acoustics.  He also served as an Independent Director for American Private Water Group, Director for Plascore, Inc. Advisory Board, Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair for Gallagher Fluid Seals, Vice Chairman of the Board for Williamsville Sears Inc.

David had a lifelong love of horses and was an avid and successful dressage rider, trainer, coach and judge.  He was always happy to help up-and-coming riders and longtime riders in any way he could and was an encouraging and supportive teacher.  Combining David’s love of horses, his business acumen and compassion for our military heroes, he served as a Director and Secretary on the board for Operation Horses and Heroes, Inc., a National 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation which provides an intensive EAP program that immerses individuals and families into the “world of the horse” using a variety of activities and powerful therapy sessions.  The program is designed for military personnel with severe PTSD and at high risk of suicide.

David was also a competitive cyclist and completed several century (100-mile) rides.  Again, combining one of David’s passions and his loving, caring heart and compassion for others, he volunteered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Team-In-Training Member and Coach and participated in fund-raising, rode for the cure and taught others how to ride for the cure.

David had a beautiful soul and a huge heart of gold that loved truly and deeply.  He always had a smile on his face that would warm your heart, his arms open to give you a big hug and a wonderful laugh that was contagious.  He was a wonderful, loving husband and a friend to everyone and was always there for you.  David will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.  To know him was to love him.  He was an exceptional man, a man among men and loved by many.  It’s hard to find the words to express all the wonderful things he brought to our lives and how empty it will be without him.  We will never be able to fill the space that losing him leaves behind.

Visitation will be 4:00 PM-8:00 PM on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Ave., Cumming, GA 30040.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at Ingram Funeral Home Chapel, 210 Ingram Ave., Cumming, GA 30040 with Rev. Scott Sorrells officiating.  Interment will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr., Canton, GA 30114.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave; Cumming, GA is in charge of the arrangements.