David Currier Warner

Captain David Currier Warner, age 88, of Kathleen, Georgia, passed away on March 16, 2026.

Born on September 24, 1937, David lived a life marked by service, skill, creativity, and devotion to his family. He proudly served his country as a Captain in the United States Air Force, where he was a Navigator with the 961st and 966th Otis Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadrons. As part of a highly skilled air defense team, he provided radar surveillance along the East Coast aboard a Lockheed RC-121 Constellation. Over the course of his military career, David flew more than 500 missions and logged over 6,800 hours of flight time.

Following his distinguished Air Force service, David earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Georgia and continued his commitment to aviation through a 28-year career in Civil Service with the Federal Aviation Administration. As an air traffic controller and flight service specialist, he provided pilots with critical briefings and assisted in filing flight plans, ensuring safety in the skies he loved so much.

Even in retirement, David remained closely connected to aviation. He volunteered for many years at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, where he shared his knowledge and passion while helping with the Mission Quest Flight Simulation Lab.

A lifelong pilot and flight instructor, David proudly maintained his active flight instructor certification well into his eighties. Beyond aviation, he was a gifted folk artist who found joy in working with his hands. He created beautiful wood carvings, handcrafted furniture, and replica Air Force planes, some of which were featured at the Museum of Aviation. His artistic talents were widely recognized at the Georgia National Fair, where he earned numerous ribbons over more than two decades of participation. If David admired you, chances are he expressed it through a one-of-a-kind carving, generously gifting his creations to friends, family, and even his doctors and pharmacists.

Above all, David was a devoted husband and family man. He spent time building, creating, and sharing projects with his children and grandchildren. In his later years, he demonstrated extraordinary kindness and grace while caring for his beloved wife, Debbie, as she faced dementia.

David was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth W. Briggs (2003); his father, Carlos H. Warner (1963); his brother, Dr. Charles R. Warner (2022); and his wife, Deborah L. Warner (2025).

He is survived by his two daughters, Kristi L. Slovik (Jim) and Michelle B. Norris (Stephen); and his grandchildren, Leah and Elan Norris.

Captain Warner will be remembered for his steady hand, generous heart, quiet strength, and the lasting impact he made on all who knew him. His legacy lives on in the skies he navigated, the lives he touched, and the family he loved so deeply.