On Saturday, July 2, 2022, David Earl Fanning, age 86, of Columbia,IL passed away in his home at Holly Brook in Belleville, IL.
Born in 1936 to Charles and Edna Fanning in Ft. Worth, TX, David graduated from WB Ray High School in Corpus Cristi, Texas and attended the University of Florida in 1955 on a football and baseball scholarship. Upon graduation David joined the United States Marine Corp as an aviator completing 2 tours in Vietnam flying helicopters and then 3 additional tours in Okinawa flying C130s. David had a diverse career in the Marine Corps as a pilot as well as appointment to the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey as the Naval Attaché where he learned to speak Turkish fluently. He would tell you the attaché post in Turkey and Commander of the C130 squadron in El Toro, California were the pinnacle assignments of his military career.

Dave was a devoted husband to the late Sally Petterson, loving father to Dana (Thomas) Baker, Jay (Kim) Fanning and the late Jeni (Chris) Leeds and devoted grandfather to 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was welcomed into Sally's family by her brother (Jim), loving sisters (Karen, Sue, Nancy and Patti) and their husbands (Bill Dill, Ed, Jim and Barry), "bonus" children Jeff (Becky) Pflasterer and Chris (Amy) Pflasterer and 3 grandchildren.

Dave was known for his sense of humor, kindness, and love of his family. He was also known to bust out a tune on his ukulele on a regular basis. He will be missed by his family and friends from St John UCC Valmeyer, Ritter Road and Holly Brook.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 at 9:30 am with Pastor Steve Boorsma as celebrant. The family will receive friends Thursday evening July 7, 2022 from 6-8pm and an hour before the service on Friday. Burial will take place at Valhalla Gardens in Belleville, IL immediately following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers please send a donation in honor of David Fanning to:

Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517
https://support.wounded
warriorproject.org.
Please visit his memorial page at
www.braunfh.com