David "Dave" Kantrud

ELOY - David "Dave" Kantrud, 74, died on July 5, 2019, at his home in Eloy, surrounded by his wife and two children.

Mr. Kantrud was born on June 2, 1945, in Alexandria, Minnesota. He graduated from high school in Dickinson, North Dakota, and then attended North Dakota State University. Upon graduation in 1967, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He married his college sweetheart, Sandy Shipley, and they were happily married for 52 years until his death.

He was an Air Force pilot for 20 years and flew several different airplanes including the A-1 during the Vietnam War and later the U-2 spy plane. After retiring from the Air Force as a major, he flew Boeing 737s and Airbus A319s and A320s for America West Airlines, USAir and American Airlines. After retiring at age 60, he and Sandy moved to the Robson Ranch community in Eloy.

He is survived by his wife, two children, a brother and four grandchildren.

Memorial service at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel in Casa Grande. Interment of cremated remains at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 19, in Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Marana.