David W. Register, 73, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at Navicent Center in Macon, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Thursday, December 24, 2020, at Waterloo Baptist Church in Irwin County, Georgia, with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Pangle officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald. The body will lie in state for public viewing one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary. Sanctuary seating for the funeral service will be limited to family members only. Friends are invited to drive-in and tune their car radio to 88.3 FM to hear the service. The service will also be live-streamed on the Facebook page of Waterloo Baptist Church.
Mr. Register was born June 4, 1947, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late Julian W. & Ola Mae Murray Register. He lived in Fitzgerald all of his life and graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1965. He joined the Navy after graduation and served his country honorably from 1966-1969. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation for 2 ½ years and then served 12 months in Vietnam as a rear gunner and an engineer on river patrol boats. Mr. Register received the Purple Heart for being wounded during combat in Vietnam.
Mr. Register retired from the Georgia Department of Transportation with 32 years of service. He founded the local Vietnam Veterans Association and was a member of the American Legion. He loved his country, the Lord, and his family and friends and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He never met a stranger and enjoyed having coffee with his friends at Ronny’s BBQ each morning. He was a member of Waterloo Baptist Church where he led singing, sang in the choir, served on the Mission Board, and loved Mission work. He made several mission trips to southeast Asia and to Central America. He loved his church family.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Patricia Register of Fitzgerald; children and their spouses: Jennifer Register of Nicholls, Michelle & Alex Dix of Ocilla, David M. Register & Christmas of Athens, and Jeff Register of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Amanda & Nick Powell, Alan & Lacie Rowe, Adam & Kayla Rowe, Beau Dix, Alex Paulk, Cassidy Hix, Lindsey Register, Rinney Register, Neil Register, Grey Register, Trenton Register, and Gabriel Register; great-grandchildren: Colt Powell, Cade Powell, Brice Rowe, Cooper Rowe, Layton Ball, and Lauren Ritch; a brother: Jimmy & Kathy Register of Fitzgerald; and two sisters: Judy & Earl Ray of Fitzgerald and Mary Lou Biggs of Fitzgerald. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne Register and Larry Register; and a sister, Joyce Pfeifle.
Flowers will be accepted or you may donate to Waterloo Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Josh Irvin, 255 Rusty Nail Road, Ashburn GA 31714 or to the Vietnam Veterans Association, c/o Tim Pust, 318 North Main Street, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.
Due to COVID-19, all guests and attendees are requested to wear appropriate medical grade face-masks and to maintain social distancing at all times.