Dave Atherton was born in St.Charles, Illinois to Bill & Ruth Atherton. He was the eldest of 4 children. Dave, Debra Warkentin (John), Tom & Joy Luff (Richard). He passed away at home in Deer Park, WA under the good care of the Horizon Hospice team and his family.

He served in the Vietnam War and was in the Army for 20 years. He and his wife were stationed in Japan between 1978-1980. They moved to Arizona with their newborn daughter and then moved to the language school in Monterey, California. The family took a 3-year tour to Germany. They moved back to the US, Hawaii where he retired from the Army in 1991.

From 1992 to 1997 Dave had the chance to work with JTF/FA, POW MIA in Vietnam from Thailand for 5 years.

In the Spring of 1997, Dave moved his family to Deer Park, WA where he worked as a real estate agent until he retired in 2023.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sumontha, 3 children, Monique Atherton, Will Atherton
Danny Atherton (Shanoaha Smith).