David Milton McIntosh

Lt. Colonel David Milton McIntosh, USAF Ret. Lt. Colonel David Milton McIntosh, Jr., USAF Ret, passed away on Saturday, October 1st, at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans from complications of heart disease. Survivors include his wife, Rosalea Friday McIntosh, daughter, Audrey McIntosh Johnson and son-in-law, Christopher Johnson. Siblings include Dr. Ann McIntosh Waring (Dr. Michael Bigsby), Michael McIntosh (Martha Thompson) and Dennis McIntosh (Dr. Caroline Wagner) and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Capt. David M. McIntosh, Sr., USN Ret, and by his mother, Mary Coll McIntosh. David was born in Newport, R.I. on July 11, 1950. The family transferred to U.S. Navy assignments including Charleston, SC, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Auburn, AL and Atlanta, GA, finally settling in Gulfport, MS upon Capt. McIntosh’s retirement. As a child David showed talent as an artist in painting and sketching. He played drums during high school with several bands, including the rock band Flower Power. David graduated from Gulfport East High School in 1968. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Sociology from the University of Mississippi in 1972. He joined Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, making lifelong friendships. He began Officer Training School in the U.S. Air Force, receiving his commission in 1973. David married Rosalea Friday of Columbus, MS in 1977 while stationed in Blytheville, AR as a B-52 co-pilot. In 1979 David transferred to Air Training Command and moved to Williams Air Force Base, AZ where he was a T-37 Instructor Pilot. In January 1982 he was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX to write courseware for pilot training programs. In 1984 David was assigned to the Pentagon where he negotiated Air Force training contracts with allies of the United States in the Foreign Military Affairs Group. David was assigned to Air Command and Staff College in 1987 at Maxwell AFB, AL. David welcomed his daughter Audrey in April 1987. He received his Master of Arts in Military History from the University of Alabama in 1988. David was assigned to Reese Air Force Base, TX later that year, serving as the Commander of the 64th Field Maintenance Squadron. David assumed Command of the 100th Flying Training Squadron at Williams Air Force Base, AZ. This squadron traces its roots back to the Tuskegee Airmen of Alabama fame and was one of the proudest accomplishments of David’s military career. His final assignment was Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS in 1994, where David served as Chief of Safety. He retired from the Air Force in 1997 and took a position with Lear - Siegler at Columbus Air Force Base, MS to provide training to Air Force student pilots. During his employment, David developed courseware for the Air Force’s new training jet, the T-1. He trained both pilots and pilot instructors and received numerous awards for his outstanding work. In 2009, David suffered sudden cardiac arrest, forcing his retirement from Lear - Siegler. The family lived in Columbus until 2014, moving to Ocean Springs, MS to enjoy the Mississippi Gulf Coast again. They traveled frequently, visiting friends and family. Throughout his life David was an active member of the Catholic Church and was a member of Knights of Columbus, Annunciation Catholic Church of Columbus, MS. He was a member at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, MS at the time of his death. David enjoyed fishing and was an avid reader of all types of literature. He will be remembered by his family and many friends for his incredible sense of humor, steadfast loyalty, consideration for all, amazing work ethic, and his great love for his wife, Rosalea and daughter, Audrey. Honorary pallbearers are fraternity brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon, Chi Chapter. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 2414 17th Street, Gulfport MS 39501. Visitation will be Thursday, October 6, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:45 P.M. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 12:45 p.m. going to St. St. John Catholic Church, Gulfport for the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at Biloxi National Cemetery with military honors by the U.S. Air Force. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com