1953-2024
David Margos, age 70 years, passed away January 8,2024 in his Erie home surrounded by his loving family who were his foundation and strength. He is preceded in death by his parents George and Annabelle Margos and his beloved little girl Amber Gladys Margos. David is survived by his beloved wife Deborah, his two incredible children Nick Margos (Alissa) and Mindy Holman( Shane),four Grandchildren, one Great-granddaughter, and his siblings Alice Walker (Alex), Dr Georgia Grantham ( Kirk) and Nick Margos (Barbara).
During his years at Salida High School, David showed his very competitive and disciplined side when he achieved several local and state Wrestling awards which are displayed in the Salida High Gymnasium. Upon graduation he enlisted in the US Navy and served four years on the USS Agerholm Destroyer (DDS-86) as a Naval Quartermaster. After returning back to the states he worked several years at Climax Molybdenum Mine.
David’s first toys as a child were tools and a carburetor given to him by his Uncle Mike. This ignited a lifelong passion for using tools to fix or build anything mechanical.This talent helped him build a pathway toward his future profession as an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic at United Airlines. While attending Emily Griffith Technical College in Denver he worked for his Uncle Bill Kelly in his TV repair/Bicycle shop where he repaired bicycles during the day and studied airplanes in the evening.
In 1986 he was hired by United Airlines in San Francisco and transferred to the United Denver base in 1991 and retired in 2017. His coworkers remember him as “always having a smile on his face and that he was all about helping others”. In later years at Denver United, David was chosen to be part of an “ Alert Crew”, a group of very talented troubleshooting A&P Mechanics who assisted other mechanics when needed. It brought him great satisfaction to help repair airplanes so passengers could continue on their flights. He was highly respected by his coworkers, appreciated for his attention to detail and his uncanny ability to come up with solutions for every problem and situation. He was known for his “story telling ability”, quick wit and throwing in a snarky comment in there for good measure. Others remember his mischievous sense of fun and the “shenanigans” he initiated as well as his readiness to share a “Scotch on the Rocks” with others.
In 1991, David and his loving wife embarked on a journey that would shape their lives forever. They built their house and hangar at the end of the runway at Erie Air Park. He worked tirelessly adding his personal touch to create a beautiful, comfortable home and making sure that the hangar was big enough to hold his “lifetime” tool collection. He spent many enjoyable hours refurbishing and flying his 1941 Taylorcraft airplane. Many remember the Pumpkin parties at Halloween. There was food to eat, pumpkins to carve and drop out of airplanes. David enjoyed numerous adventures traveling in his RV with his wife and family.One particularly memorable adventure took him to Washington D.C. with his grandson Noah, where they saw the Vietnam War Memorial Wall together for the first time. Noah is now a Marine stationed in California.David took another trip to Alaska to help build an addition onto a friend’s house.
After retiring, David enjoyed training his beloved Golden Retriever, Brodie and becoming an avid duck, goose and pheasant hunter. He loved hunting and fishing with his son Nick, friends and his “puppy dog”.
David was dedicated to a balanced life of hard work, love of family and kindness. This was intertwined with a spirit of adventure, fierce determination and optimism. David brought joy and inspiration to everyone around him. He was a true “Renaissance Man”, reinventing himself for every phase of his life.
A “Celebration of Life” party will be held at Erie Air Park later in the year, followed by graveside service at Salida Cemetery.
