David Morris Conrad

Col. (Ret.) David M. Conrad died peacefully on Saturday, the 14th of September 2024, at the age of 96 in Houston, Texas. David was born on the 28th of April 1928, in Hamilton, Ohio to Paul J. Conrad and Cora Margarite "Peg" (Wikoff) Conrad. The second of four children, David grew up playing sports and was the manager of his high school's football and baseball teams.

He enlisted in the army in 1946 and served in Italy before transferring into the army reserves. David returned to Ohio to attend Miami University, majoring in Entomology, and received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology. While attending, David joined the newly formed Air Force ROTC program and took the opportunity to sign up with the Air Force as a commissioned officer following graduation in 1951.

During an early assignment in Washington D.C., David met the love of his life, Mary Lou Bartscht, at a dance. After receiving orders to transfer to Biloxi, Mississippi, the two were quickly married following a three-month courtship. Soon after their first move, David was transferred to the Alaskan Air Depot where they spent several years making lifelong friendships and memories. He pivoted his career to Communications specializing in radar systems and received an additional Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and a Master in Electronics from The Air Force Technical Institute in Dayton, Ohio.

As a career military officer, David took the family with him as he transferred to new locales both domestically and internationally. While stationed at the Pentagon David played an instrumental role in the development of the AWACS system for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

David and Mary Lou enjoyed 66 years of marriage, and he cared for her lovingly during her failing health before she passed away in 2019. The two shared a love of travel and once he retired, they were very active in the Friendship Force Club in Austin. David visited all 50 states and all seven continents with highlights being his and Mary Lou's return trips to Alaska. David and Mary Lou had three children, eight grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren of whom he was very proud. He was a terrific bridge player, public speaker, and family historian. His memory for details was unmatched. He will be remembered fondly.

David is preceded in death by his parents, brothers (Paul and Richard), and wife. He is survived by his sister, Suzanne Selfridge Booth; children, Cynthia (Cletus Bayer) Conrad, Lori (Peter) Workin, and Kurt (Dena) Conrad; grandchildren, Katrina (Bhadrappa Molgi) Bayer, Rachel (Brad Weiss) Workin, Nicholas (Jennie) Bayer, Jacob (Crosby) Bayer, Laurel Conrad, Madison (Matt Stephens) Conrad, Jonathan Conrad, and Ian Conrad; along with their children.

Services at Arlington National Cemetery are pending. In the interim you may opt to receive updated information by selecting the “Receive Updates” icon. You may share words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon.