David Kenneth Maskell

Captain Dave Maskell

David Kenneth Maskell, 86, died Saturday, November 4, 2023, surrounded by his family at his home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 28, 1937, he was the son of the late Kenneth George Maskell and Eleanor Maskell. His sister, Diane Peterjohn, also preceded him in death.

A graduate of St. Ignatius Catholic High School in Cleveland, Dave played end on the varsity football team, was All-City, and graduated from Xavier University in 1959, where he attended on a football scholarship and met the love of his life, Mary. He played semi-pro football for the Cincinnati Mohawks.

He joined the United States Navy in 1959 and attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida. In 1968 until 1969, Dave was selected to attend the second ever class at Fighter Weapons School, now known as Top Gun School. He was an F-8 Crusader fighter pilot and an A-7 Corsair pilot. In 1968, he was forced to eject from his F-8 in White County, Georgia. Dave was the commanding officer of the VA-205 attack squadron in the Navy Reserve at Naval Air Station Atlanta (now known as General Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center); part of Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia from 1977 to 1979. Employed by Delta Air Lines for thirty-three years, Dave retired as an international Captain on the MD-11 aircraft in 1997. After retirement, he started, owned, and operated ROC Air charter services at the Thomaston-Upson County Airport in Thomaston, Georgia.

Survivors are his wife of sixty-three years, Mary Huesman Maskell; and his four children, Gregg Maskell of Beaufort, South Carolina, Lisa Moore (Mark) of Griffin, Georgia, Scott Maskell of Griffin, Georgia, and Matt Maskell (Charlene) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; five grandchildren, Lt. Commander Nicholas David Maskell of Manama, Bahrain, Lauren Jones (Will) of Nashville, Tennessee, Elizabeth Hargett (Chase) of Milner, Georgia, Maegan Maskell of Lakewood, Colorado, and Meredith Maskell of Auburn, Alabama; one great granddaughter, Hallie Jordan Hargett of Milner, Georgia; a niece, Shannon Zupanc; and three nephews, Brian Peterjohn, Craig Peterjohn, and Kevin Peterjohn.

A family memorial service will be held at Barrancas Military Cemetery, NAS, Pensacola, Florida. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.