David Milton Birdsall

CDR David M Birdsall, USN Retired, long-time resident of Richfield Springs, NY, age 90, born November 12, 1933, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2024, at McLeod Hospital in Florence, SC. David was born in Otego, NY and was raised in Afton, NY. He went to New York State Maritime School and joined the US Navy where he became an Aviator and served honorably for 22 years, retiring in 1977. Afterwards, David spent 15 years working for Hechinger Company in Northern Virginia and Rochester, NY where he was a Store Manager. After he retired a second time, he and his beloved wife, Nancy Birdsall (Folts), moved to Richfield Springs, NY where they lived for 30 years. He was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richfield Springs, NY prior to his moving to assisted living in South Carolina. He was loving, generous, always smiling, and level-headed. He enjoyed bird watching, hunting, fishing, and working in his garden. He will be missed. David was preceded in death by his wife Nancy (Folts), his parents, Raymon and Lois Birdsall, and two of his four siblings, Ruth Quinones and Fred Birdsall. David is survived by his 2 children: David (Joni) Birdsall Jr. of Richmond Hill, GA, and Diana (Dennis) Fraley of Florence, SC, 3 Grandchildren: Paige Birdsall, Ashley Birdsall, and Connor Fraley; 2 sisters, Mary (Ray) Decker of Ann Arbor, MI and Lois Oswald of New York. A memorial service for the family will be planned at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at https://support.nmcrs.org/a/homepage?t=true in honor of David.