Carrol David "Dave" Folse, 84, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Carrol was born on January 15, 1942, in Napoleonville, Louisiana, to the late Nelson Sr. and Eva Bourg Folse. He grew up in Labadieville and was active in sports at Assumption High School, where he was an All-State running back on the 1961 football team. He lettered infootball, baseball, and track.

After graduating from high school, Carrol enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in England, where he met his future wife, Eva. Following the completion of his enlistment, the couple returned to Louisiana, where Carrol attended Nicholls State University under the GI Bill. Upon earning his bachelor's degree, Carrol was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and attended Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base in California. After completing training in 1968, he was assigned to the 19th Bomb Wing at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, serving as a Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer aboard B-52G bombers.

During his assignment with the 19th Bomb Wing, Carrol completed three combat tours in Southeast Asia and flew more than 120 combat missions in B-52D and B-52G bombers. He participated in four missions during Operation Linebacker II in December 1972, the final bombing campaign over Hanoi that helped bring the Vietnam War to a close. For his bravery during combat, Carrol was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. During one mission, he and his crew successfully completed their objective despite intense surface-to-air missile attacks and a severely impaired defensive system aboard their aircraft. Following his active-duty service, Carrol joined the Air Force Ready Reserve, where he continued to serve as a Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer aboard AC-130A gunships. He remained in the Reserve until his retirement in 1990 with the rank of Major.

In April 1982, Carrol began a second career in Civil Service with the Electronic Warfare Management Directorate at Robins Air Force Base. As a Computer Scientist and Test Engineer, he worked with the F-4G Wild Weasel engineering team and served as a Test Director for numerous flight tests involving software systems developed at Robins. Following the retirement of the F-4G Wild Weasel program, he continued to serve as a Systems Lead and Software Project Manager for other electronic warfare systems until retiring in 2012.

Above all, Carrol was a devoted husband whose greatest joy was his family. For 65 years, he shared a loving and enduring partnership with his wife, Eva, whom he met while serving in England. Their marriage was marked by unwavering support, faithfulness, and a deep commitment to one another through every chapter of life.

Carrol enjoyed building model airplanes and remained a lifelong aviation enthusiast. He was also a passionate LSU Tigers football fan who rarely missed a game and proudly supported his team through every season. Most importantly, he treasured time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and took great pride in their accomplishments.

In addition to his parents, Carrol was preceded in death by his brother, Nelson Folse.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Eva; his sisters, Judy and Carolyn "Teetsie" Folse; his four children, Tracy (Arlene), Diane (Rob), David, and Michael (Julie); six grandchildren, Adam (Haleigh), Lauren, Mary Clare, Madeline, Jedediah (Melinda), and Matthew (Jessica); and four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Parker, Grayson, and Christian.

Carrol will be remembered for his service to his country, his dedication to his family, and the steadfast love he shared with Eva throughout their 65 years together.

Visitation will be July 2, 2026, from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM on July 2, 2026, in the sanctuary at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Afterward, Carroll David “Dave” Folse will be laid to rest in Canton, GA on July 8, 2026.