David Warren Dodson, 71, passed away peacefully surrounded by his three beloved daughters on Friday, March 11, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth June Dodson, his daughters Lesley Dodson, Tracy Ruth (Daniel), and Keely Aftuck (Martin), and his seven grandchildren Olivia and Madison (Lesley), Taylor and Tanner (Tracy), Myla, Lily, and Reese (Keely). He was preceded in death by his father, Warren Eden Dodson.

Dave was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, on October 14, 1950. He grew up in the Detroit area of Michigan, where he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and anything outdoors. He graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1968, and served six years in the United States Marine Corps. Dave then completed a four-year Sheet Metal Workers Local 80 Apprenticeship Program in Warren, Michigan. In 1984, he moved his family to Edgewater, Florida, to continue sheet metal work as a member of Union Local 80. His love of the river and ocean drew him to Bethune Beach in 1988, where he spent his very best years fishing, playing beach volleyball, and basking in the sun all day. He soaked it up until 2004, when he finally retired from Johnson Controls at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, and selflessly returned to Mayfield, Kentucky, to care for his elderly parents.

Knowing his heart always belonged in Florida with his girls and their families, he returned in 2010, where he lived his final years in Port Orange. While Dave was an incredibly private person, his daughters know that he was full of silly, contagious giggles, and loved to spoil them with fun memories. He loved classic rock, and was a sucker for an unlimited night at the Volusia County Fair, or a playful day with his grandkids at Chuck E. Cheese! While David's time on earth ended too soon, he leaves a legacy with his daughters and their families. He requested that no memorial service take place; instead, his daughters promised him special days back on Bethune Beach.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made in his memory to AdventHealth Hospice Care, Volusia/Flagler Counties. We are forever grateful for their compassionate care. https://www.adventhealth.com/foundation/adventhealth-foundation-central-florida/donate-hospice-care-east-florida