David Satterthwaite, 85, of Peachtree City passed away Monday, April 17, 2017. He was born on July 3, 1931 to the late Branson and Alice Mearkle Satterthwaite in Philadelphia, Pa. He grew up in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida.
The expansion of flight and naval shipping during World War II spurred his interest in aircraft and boating. David graduated in 1949 from Everett high School in Pennsylvania. He completed aircraft mechanics studies in 1950 at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He enlisted for three years in the US Air Force starting in 1951. He served as an aircraft mechanic at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, supporting pilot training for crews flying missions over Korea. He then turned to the civilian workforce at Capitol Airlines outside Washington D.C. His education included time at Gettysburg College, in Gettysburg, Pa., where he met Sallie Dimmick. The two married in 1956.
David spent the remainder of his working life with Owens Corning Fiberglass, starting in Barrington, N.J. in 1956, and moved to Peachtree City to start the company’s Fairburn facility in 1971. He said he was attracted to the new community by Lake Peachtree and the opportunity to sail. He retired in 1986 as a senior process engineer. He remained an avid sailor, building a succession of boats including full-sized sailing vessels and models. He was also a radio-control model airplane enthusiast. He was an early member and EMT of the Peachtree City Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member at First Presbyterian and Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran churches in Peachtree City. He participated in gathering research data for birding organizations including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Throughout his life he read military and science history.
David is preceded in death by his daughter, Alice Satterthwaite, and his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Sallie D. Satterthwaite; daughters, Jean S. Withnell of Leesburg, Va. and Mary Satterthwaite of Dusseldorf, Germany; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Peachtree City with Reverend Miriam Beecher officiating.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City – www.mowellfuneralhome.com.
