David Warfield III

David Kerr Warfield III, DDS

David Kerr Warfield III of Decatur, Georgia died peacefully at home surrounded by family on February 24, 2025 at age 89. David was born at Walter Reed Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland on February 17, 1936 to Captain David K. Warfield Jr. and Margaret W. Warfield.

After high school, David briefly attended the University of Maryland before serving in the US Army for three years. Completing his service, he came to Emory University where he met Donna Tiffany in chemistry class. They were married in 1960 and were together for 64 years. David received his Doctorate from Emory University School of Dentistry and joined the faculty as a professor specializing in Crown and Bridge Prosthodontics. He taught for 22 years, eventually becoming a Dean of Students, until the closing of the Dental School in 1988.

Still feeling the call to teach, David earned his teaching certificate and taught high school science for six years. Additionally, David rejoined the Army as a Reservist. He rose from the rank of Major to Colonel and was a Commander of a dental unit in Augusta for the majority of his time in the Reserves.

David and Donna both retired in 1994, and began years of visiting their favorite east coast destinations in their Airstream trailer. David also picked up many hobbies including woodworking, painting, calligraphy, photography, restoring lamps and clocks, and sailing model boats. He loved his family and friends fiercely; he was a great story-teller and loved making people smile and laugh. Some of his favorite things were RV-ing with friends he'd known since college, breakfasts at the Oak Grove Market, and relaxing at his cabin in Bear Paw, North Carolina.

David's daughters, Cathy and Margaret, remember listening to him play folk music on his acoustic guitar, watching him tend his bonsai trees, jogging together, and enjoying Disney World vacations. He taught his daughters how to change car tires, drive a stick shift, check oil, cut crown-molding, chop firewood, and self-defense . . . he was always a teacher. David was loving, protective, funny, creative, tenacious, talented, sensitive, and wise.

David was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Parish as a Lay Reader, Chalice Bearer, Verger, Vestry Member, and Folk Mass bass guitar player. He used his woodworking skills to construct the cross that still hangs in the Chapel today. In the past few years, when David was unable to go to church, he loved that church came to him, and he treasured receiving communion at home with family and friends.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Donna Warfield; daughters Cathy Shanks (Jim) and Margaret Morris (Andy) and four grandchildren, David Warfield, Margaret Emily, Catherine Elizabeth, and James Zachry; and niece and nephew Wimberly Thompson and Mark Thompson and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Emily Warfield Thompson.

David was well-loved and will be missed deeply every day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Parish, PAWS Atlanta, or the American Heart Association.

Thank you to all who are here, who have known and loved David through all the good times as well as the difficult ones.

A special thank you to Heavenly Helpers Kimberly, Averil, Barbara, Lindah, Russell, Ann, Que, and Marilyn for taking such good care of "Doc" over the last five years.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 8th, 2005 at 2:00pm at Holy Trinity Parish Espiscopal Church 515 E. Ponce De Leon, Decatur, GA 30330.

Services will be live streamed if you are unable to attend with the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/@holytrinityparishepiscopal5016