David Michael Early

David M. Early, Lt Col, USAF, Retired, 63, of Gambrills, MD, passed away on April 10, 2024, after a valiant, seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Dave was born December 8, 1960, in Syracuse, NY, to father, Joseph (Joe), and mother, Margaret (Peggy) Burke. He was the fourth of six siblings. Settling in Marietta, GA, he graduated from Georgia Tech in Industrial Engineering and was commissioned in the United States Air Force and entered pilot training.

He began his 21-year Air Force career as a T-38 instructor pilot followed by 17 years as an F-15 air-to-air combat pilot. Dave "Ugly" Early, as he was known to his colleagues and friends, absolutely loved what he did for a living - flying and serving his county. It's at his first F-15 assignment in Fort Walton Beach, FL, where he met his wife of 31 years, Billie (née Clawson), and started their world-wide adventure together serving their country and meeting life-long friends at every assignment. Dave was a friend to everyone and never met a person he wouldn’t talk to. He always had a story to tell, including many "there I was" tales that never got old. 

After retirement, Dave pursued another passion, writing. While completing another Master’s Degree in English and Creative Writing, he penned his first book. Dave’s greatest passion however, was his family, and in particular his sons, Daniel, 22, and Matthew, 16. He absolutely adored raising his sons and watching them grow into strong, young men.

Family and friends will honor and remember Dave's life at a Memorial Mass on Friday, June 14, 2024, 11:00 am at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA, 30062, followed by a celebration of life reception. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery to follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Dave be made to Kimmel Cancer Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel-cancer-center/make-a-gift.

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