Online obituary: Major General David L. Stanford USAF(Ret.)
Passed away February 27, 2017. He was buried with full military honors at the National Cemetery in Sarasota Florida.
After David graduated from Shore High School in 1943 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He graduated pilot training at Miami Beach and then went on to B-25 combat training in 1944 where he flew combat until the end of WWII. In November 1946, he was released from active duty and immediately began his 4-decade Reserve career. With his new career came his first recall to active duty during the Berlin Air Lift (1948-49).
General Stanford earned his BA and Masters from Furman University in the late 1940's and early 1950's with additional graduate work at the University of South Carolina. While attending, he worked and flew for the newly formed United States Air Force during which time he was recalled a second time for the Korean War (1950-53).
After Korea, David began his civilian career with Northeast Airlines which merged with Delta Airline where he retired as a Captain. While flying commercially he was recalled to active duty multiple times during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and once during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Upon retiring from Delta David went to work for the FAA as an inspector and retired as the manager of the Miami offices of the FAA.
During David's career, he was the base commander at Homestead Air Force Base. In the 60's, he bought property in Key Largo and then built his home in 1972. The Keys drew him in with his love of sailing, fishing, and the water (The Keys Life). In addition to his home he was one of the Founders of the Upper Keys Sailing Club (1973).
David loved Life, Family & Friends. He is survived by his wife Bonnie Stanford, his sons David and Christopher Stanford, and his granddaughter Krista Stanford.
One last party for Dave will be held at the Upper Keys Sailing Club on July 8th at 4PM, located at 100 North Ocean Drive, Key Largo (Behind Burger King MM100) Please just come and visit. Nothing else is needed.
======================
Update:
~ IN MEMORY ~
Passed away February 27, 2017. He was buried with full military honors at the National Cemetery in Sarasota Florida.
After David graduated from Shore High School in 1943 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He graduated pilot training at Miami Beach and then went on to B-25 combat training in 1944 where he flew combat until the end of WWII. In November 1946, he was released from active duty and immediately began his 4-decade Reserve career. With his new career came his first recall to active duty during the Berlin Air Lift (1948-49).
General Stanford earned his BA and Masters from Furman University in the late 1940's and early 1950's with additional graduate work at the University of South Carolina. While attending, he worked and flew for the newly formed United States Air Force during which time he was recalled a second time for the Korean War (1950-53).
After Korea, David began his civilian career with Northeast Airlines which merged with Delta Airline where he retired as a Captain. While flying commercially he was recalled to active duty multiple times during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and once during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Upon retiring from Delta David went to work for the FAA as an inspector and retired as the manager of the Miami offices of the FAA.
During David's career, he was the base commander at Homestead Air Force Base. In the 60's, he bought property in Key Largo and then built his home in 1972. The Keys drew him in with his love of sailing, fishing, and the water (The Keys Life). In addition to his home he was one of the Founders of the Upper Keys Sailing Club (1973).
David loved Life, Family & Friends. He is survived by his wife Bonnie Stanford, his sons David and Christopher Stanford, and his granddaughter Krista Stanford.
One last party for Dave will be held at the Upper Keys Sailing Club on July 8th at 4PM, located at 100 North Ocean Drive, Key Largo (Behind Burger King MM100) Please just come and visit. Nothing else is needed.
======================
Update:
From: mjoh419065@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: PCN - Death of NEA/DL, AFR ret. Maj Gen David L.
Stanford, age 91
................Dave actually retired as a Captain. Delta promoted him to Captain
in his last
month, and he flew as a Captain. Note in the picture, he has a Captain's
hat......
~ IN MEMORY ~
NEA/DL Capt., AFR ret. Maj Gen David L. Stanford
May 4, 1925 ~ February 27, 2017
News has reached our group with the passing of retired
NEA/Delta Captain AFR ret. Maj Gen David Latham Stanford, age 91. Maj Gen
Stanford joined Northeast Airlines 04-10-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines
in 1985, based Miami. He is survived by his wife Bonnie. To date I’ve
not been able to locate an online obituary or guestbook...for those wishing to
send personal condolences to the family, that address is
31 S. Exuma Road, Key Largo FL 33037-5006 ... (305)
451-0170.
Services have taken place...please see memo
below.
And please, if you see misinformation above, do let me know as
corrections are very much appreciated.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
STANFORD, DAVID
MAJ GEN US AIR FORCE
COL US AIR FORCE
CPT US ARMY AIR FORCES
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/04/1925
DATE OF DEATH: 02/27/2017
BURIED AT: SECTION 5 SITE 1592
SARASOTA NATIONAL CEMETERY
9810 STATE ROAD 72 SARASOTA, FL 34241 .... (877)
861-9840
----------------------------------------
From: David Eastis Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:25
PM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: AFR Retired General Officer Death Report - Maj Gen David
L. Stanford
....Dave was retired Delta pilot also....
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ralph Clem <clemr@fiu.edu>Date: Tue, Mar 14, 2017
at 10:09 PM
Subject: Fw: AFR Retired General Officer Death Report - Maj Gen David L.
Stanford
From: USAF Pentagon AF-RE Mailbox AF-REG Workflow Sent: Tuesday, March 14,
2017 8:46:58 PM
To: USAF Pentagon AF-RE Mailbox AF-REG Workflow
Subject: AFR Retired General Officer Death Report - Maj Gen David L.
Stanford
Sir/Ma'am,
It is with deep regret that we inform you of the following retired Air
Force Reserve general officer's death:
Grade/Name: Maj Gen David L. Stanford
Last Duty Title: Mobilization Assistant to the Commander
in Chief, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
Date of Retirement: 23 March 1983
Date of Death: 27 February 2017 (Age 91 at time of death)
Cause of Death: Illness
Place of Death: Miami, Fl.
Funeral Services: Held Thursday, March 2, 2017 at the Sarasota
National Cemetery located at 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, Fl.
Next of Kin: Mrs. Bonnie Stanford
31 South Exuma Road
Key Largo, Florida
33037
Very Respectfully,
AF Reserve Senior Leader Management (AF/REG)
update with correction......Dave actually retired as a Captain. Delta promoted him to Captain in his last
ReplyDeletemonth, and he flew as a Captain. Note in the picture, he has a Captain's hat.....
One last party for Dave will be held at the Upper Keys Sailing Club on July 8th at 4PM, located at 100 North Ocean Drive, Key Largo (Behind Burger King MM100) Please just come and visit. Nothing else is needed.
ReplyDeleteQuite by chance I happened upon the posted obituary for David Stanford. I am surprised by what I think is an important omission. General Stanford was known to me and many others as "Mr. Stanford" as he was our high school principal at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, SC. He served as principal for several years at least up until 1964 when I graduated. He was "on leave" from serving as principal in 1962 when he was called to active duty during the Cuban missile crisis and related in an address to the student body of an emergency experience involving loss of engines over the Atlantic while flying C-124 Globemaster. I especially remember that story because I eventually served in the USAF flying KC-135s. Mr. Stanford and his wife Bonnie were also voted "Mr. and Mrs. Greenville" and I think that was in 1963. I think his time as principal was an important part of his life story. I know it was important to all of us whose lives he touched during our formative years. I used to look for him "up front" whenever I flew on Delta. I wish our paths had crossed again.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI go even farther back than that. In the school year 1951-1952 Mr. Stanford was my eighth grade homeroom teacher at Greenville
ReplyDeleteJunior High School in Greenville SC. And even before that, he lived in my neighborhood on Watson Ave. In Greenville.