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David Albert Dodds November 24, 1939–January 19, 2023 David Albert Dodds, known as “Pop” to his family, was a talented mechanic, a proud veteran, and a hard worker, but, most of all, he loved and cared for his family and did his best to live with honor. He was born on November 24, 1939 in Olney, Illinois. When he was a small child, David’s parents, Joseph and Ruby, moved the family to Southern California where David grew up along with his older sister, Kathy, and his younger brother, Roger. Throughout his childhood and teen years, David demonstrated a mechanical aptitude. He excelled in shop classes in school, and he enjoyed working on cars and riding motorcycles. Military Service In June 1963, as America’s role in the Vietnam war was expanding, David voluntarily enlisted in the Air Force. He began his training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Due to San Antonio’s heat and humidity, he often told his family that Texas was “Hell on Earth.” David was an excellent marksman, and he earned a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. He was also asked to serve on the Air Force’s ceremonial rifle team, but he declined because it was stationed in San Antonio and he was hoping to be transferred to a base whose climate was much cooler. He was then sent to Propeller Repair Technical School at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. He graduated as the top man in his class with a grade of 95 percent. When a position became available at Thule Air Force Base in Greenland, he requested to be transferred there “because nobody wanted to go to Greenland!” Instead, the Air Force sent him back to San Antonio. David was assigned to the 19th Air Transport Squadron (ATS) Propeller Shop at Kelly Air Force Base where he attained the rank of Airman First Class, e-4 (in other words, a Sergeant). According to David’s military records, his “troubleshooting and repair abilities [were] held in high esteem by his supervisors and subordinates. He [was] often sought out to diagnose difficult and unusual malfunctions when a timely repair [was] necessarily essential to the completion of the 19th ATS mission.” He was also “of high moral character” and was “always neat in appearance and exemplifie[d] the highest military standards at all times.” At the same time his Air Force career was taking off, David’s personal life also began to take shape. While at the pool on base one day, he met a pretty young woman, Sydney Whitworth. He was smitten by her eyes, and she was attracted to him as well. They began to date and fell in love. David proposed marriage to Sydney, and she enthusiastically accepted his proposal. However, David was scheduled to leave soon for a tour of duty in Vietnam, and Sydney’s parents felt that the couple should wait to be married until after David had returned from the war. David and Sydney were not persuaded by this logic, and they eloped in Seguin, Texas on December 2, 1965. Shortly thereafter, David embarked on his tour of duty in Vietnam. David’s tour of duty lasted about eleven months. He was a valuable member of his squadron, and he was deployed on several classified missions. He mailed letters to Sydney nearly every day. Before leaving on these missions, David wrote a few letters to Sydney and left them with a comrade to mail to her while he was out on assignment. During this time, David saw the horrors of war, and he experienced traumatic events that he kept to himself. In November 1966, David returned home from his tour of duty, and he was honorably discharged from the Air Force. In recognition for his service, he earned a National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal. On December 2, 1966, the date of their first wedding anniversary, David and Sydney again married, this time in a church wedding before family and friends. Family Life The newlyweds settled down in San Antonio. David worked as a mechanic for the local power company, City Public Service, and Sydney worked as an assistant in a doctor’s office. They lived in an apartment for a couple of years and then bought a new home on the northwest side of town where they welcomed three children, David, Chris, and Sherry. David was a caring husband and father. He was the strong and silent type, but he demonstrated his feelings through his actions. Among many examples, he coached some of the boys’ sports teams, and he also enjoyed spending summer evenings with the family at the neighborhood pool. He supported his children in their interests, such as building electric trains, star gazing through a telescope, and playing musical instruments. He also used his mechanical and technical abilities to help when needed, including many car repairs and an addition to the family home. In addition, he found time for hobbies, such as raising birds, planting tulips, and photographing his flowers and family. As the years went by, David and Sydney welcomed two daughters-in-law to the family (Crystal and Stephanie) and six grandchildren. After retiring, David and Sydney moved to the Hill Country near Boerne, Texas, where David enjoyed mowing the property on his tractor and feeding the deer. For 18 years, this is where the family spent many weekends and holidays gathering for family dinners and fun. David and Sydney moved back to San Antonio in 2020 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. David was a man of integrity. He was reserved, and he listened before he spoke. When he did speak, he chose his words carefully, and he often gave encouragement or advice. He rarely, if ever, told a lie. He could be obstinate at times, but only because he possessed strong convictions. He did not speak of his faith often, but he attended church with his family and he led a few Sunday classes for the three-to-five-year-olds. David’s spirit slipped away around midnight on January 19, 2023. Sherry, Chris, Crystal, and three of his grandsons were with him when he passed. Pop, please don’t worry about us while you are gone. We will take care of mom and of each other. We will miss you dearly. However, we know that, through God’s grace, we will see you again in the next life.

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David Albert Dodds

November 24, 1939 - January 19, 2023