James David Solomon

James David Solomon, Jr., also known as “Dave,” of Ashburn, Virginia, went to Heaven on August 21, 2025. He was a cherished and dedicated father, beloved grandfather and a loyal friend. He had suffered a stroke two weeks prior to his move to Heaven. He was 86 years old.

Dave was born in Harriman, TN to Edna Marie McDermitt Solomon and James David Solomon, Sr. on March 11, 1939. Another son, Frank, joined the family in 1940. James and Edna divorced and she and the boys lived with her parents, Ruben and Willie Mae Simms-McDermitt in Harriman, TN. Ruben and Willie Mae had seven children. In addition to their children, they helped raise several of their grandchildren. Times were hard for the multi-generational family.

On a trip to Tennessee to see family in 2016 with his daughters, Deanna and Lyn, Dave shared many of his early childhood memories. He remembered walking to the Bible Baptist Church for services and told them of how he had asked Jesus into his heart when he was eight years old.

When Dave was nine years old, Edna and the boys moved to Gardena, California for more economic opportunities. Dave fondly remembered walking to the local movie theater, hiking Lovejoy Butte and swimming in area lakes and alfalfa farm reservoirs with friends. He said that they were always accompanied by his beloved dog, Buster. He loved learning and exploring and later passed that lifelong love of learning and adventure on to his two daughters.

Dave fondly spoke of his step-dad, Earl Phillips, thankful for the positive impact that he made on his life. Dave credited Earl with teaching him the value of hard work. Earl was a cook in the Army and at a local restaurant and he drove a school bus. Dave worked many jobs as a boy. He sold the L.A. Examiner newspaper on a street corner and later delivered papers on a paper route. He washed dishes in restaurants, helped in the family garden and picked and chopped cotton for a local farm. He cleared a lot of tumbleweeds to then help plant a large garden in the 8th grade. He had fond memories of participating in Future Farmers of America (FFA). In the FFA, he built a pig pen and raised a sow that had a litter of six pigs. He was to give two of the pigs to the FFA organization and then he could sell the others. The family raised chickens as well. Dave participated in Boy Scouts, and thoroughly enjoyed his time in scouting. FFA and Boy Scouts were some of his favorite memories from that time period. He was excited when his youngest grandson began to participate in Scouts and then Trail Life over the last few years.

Dave carried fond memories of lifelong friends that he made in junior high and high school in Wilsona and Lancaster, CA; Roy, Todd, Troy, Cecil, Frank and Ollie were a few.

He loved playing football, running track and learning to bowl in Antelope Valley. At age 16, he worked for A.V. Bowl prepping bowling lanes and setting the pins, working as the janitor and desk clerk and assistant night manager. The owner of the bowling alley believed in him and sponsored him for training with American Machine and Foundry (AMF) as a pin setter and mechanic. He appreciated those opportunities and learned to love the game of bowling. He bowled his entire life. A few years ago, he bowled a 299, leaving one pin standing on the last frame! He enjoyed bowling in at least one weekly bowling league and serving as a substitute on many other league teams, bowling as many as five times per week in retirement. Always humble, Dave could often be heard saying to his daughters, after a strike, “see, there is life after 30, or 40, or 50…” He attended annual bowling tournaments with friends who shared his love of the game. He bowled some annual tournaments for over 20 years.

After graduating from Antelope Valley High School, Dave attended college at Antelope Valley College. During college, he also worked night shift in the paint hangar at Northrop Aviation in Palmdale, CA prepping F-89 Scorpion aircraft for repainting. He came to love aviation and aerospace. This love and fascination influenced his decision to join the US Air Force at the age of 22. During his time in the Air Force, he learned radar and electronics and communications. He had a very analytical mind and this was a great fit for him.

He met and married Vicki while stationed in Havre, MT. They later had two daughters, Deanna and Lyn. After six years, a few moves and advanced training, he discharged from the Air Force and went to work for the Air Force as a civilian at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. He worked on the Instrument Landing Systems (ILS).  Dave's job required a lot of travel during this time, and the family frequently went with him on temporary duty assignments (TDY).  Dave re-dedicated his life to Jesus when his youngest daughter was just three years old and they were attending church in Lakewood, WA.

When the girls were old enough to start school, the family could not travel with him on TDY assignments.  Dave wanted to be able to spend more time at home with his family and not travel with the job. Dave and Vicki wanted to give their children a stable home life, free of upheaval. He took a job with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Hillsboro, Oregon, that did not require travel. Dave and Vicki were both committed to giving their daughters all of the love and support that they could. Vicki was a stay-at-home mom for most of their childhood, and they supported their girls in all of their endeavors.

Dave loved new technology. He had one of the first personal computers to come out. It was huge! Dave and Vicki had to buy a video recorder shortly after those came out, to record their daughter’s softball and volleyball games. He never missed a game, but he watched through a 1-inch square viewer while recording every game. He loved coming to sports practices and helping the girl’s teams by recording them and then letting them watch themselves play and improve their game. He often recorded himself and friends while bowling, so they could watch themselves and improve their game.

They attended Brookwood Baptist Church in Hillsboro, OR for many years. In addition to pouring into their children, Dave and Vicki poured into the lives of the youth group at the church. They led Sunday School classes, get-togethers in their home, mid-week Bible studies, comedy skits, beach trips, progressive dinners, youth conferences and so many fun adventures; all focused on relationships and spiritual growth. So many good memories from those days! Dave often spoke, even recently, of how special a Brookwood Baptist Church reunion would be.

The girls enjoyed stability and graduated from high school with friends that they attended school with from the beginning. Unfortunately, after 24 years, he and Vicki divorced. Years later, he retired from the FAA in Washington DC. He used his knowledge and experience in radar and telecommunications as a contractor with a local company for a few years after retirement. He loved his work and he loved people. He was involved in the singles group at church and loved fostering those relationships, going on adventures with the group and encouraging each other. He always found ways to help others. He loved helping local conservatives running for office and often helped with their political campaigns.

After many years, Dave and Vicki built a solid friendship based on their love for their family; this friendship was a blessing to all of the family. Deanna and Lyn planned a little birthday celebration in Oregon after he was traveling for bowling just before his 85th birthday last year. Deanna suggested a casual stop through Oregon for the weekend before heading home to Virginia. They surprised him with Lyn flying in for the weekend celebration. He was so surprised and kept pointing at Lyn all weekend, saying she was the present! They had some family pictures taken that weekend. It was a very special time together.

While Dave always loved the beautiful Pacific Northwest, he never moved back. He did make countless visits to Deanna and Lyn and their families over the years. He enjoyed bowling tournaments around the country, Air Force reunions, high school reunions, spending time with family in Tennessee. He loved to travel and spend quality time with friends and family. Throughout his life, Dave remained close with family in Tennessee, friends from the 8th grade, buddies from his Air Force days, friends from church and friends from work. He was a loyal friend who genuinely loved people and loved helping them.

Throughout his life, Dave wanted to share his faith with others, so that they would join him one day in Heaven. He always loved the sun shining through clouds - it reminded him that one day Jesus would return. He knew where he was going after this life. Because of this, we are including these verses explaining salvation through Jesus Christ. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Dave is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ruben and Willie Mae McDermitt, his parents, Edna Solomon and James David Solomon, Sr., his brother Frank Solomon, his step-dad Earl Phillips, Uncles Charles, Frank and Pete McDermitt, beloved Aunts Evelyn Palmer, Ruby Ellison and Mary Helen King, and dear cousins, Betty Sue, Louise, Robert, Alane, John, Marsha, Ronald and Debbie.

Dave is survived by daughters, Deanna Schifferdecker (Charlie) of Oregon; Lyn Leake (David) of Texas; ex-wife and friend, Vicki Atwood of Oregon; three grandchildren, Jacob and Benjamin Schifferdecker of Oregon and Steven Leake of Texas. He is also survived by five great grandchildren, Dylan, Bryce, Norah, Milo and Quinn of Oregon. Sister-In-Law, Mary Solomon and nephew Frankie Solomon of California, niece Nancy Volk (Lawrence) of New York and many beloved cousins Pat, Francis, Bobby Jo, Janet, Kathy and Tony of Tennessee.

The family is celebrating Dave’s life privately. They would welcome you to post your memories, photos and condolences on this page. If desired, donations can be made in Dave’s honor to Trail Life at the following link https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLE0798VNKMAS/checkout/O6S6EFLHTRUTVSQEWKZW47WK