Obituary

David’s “dash” years between 1933 and 2022 were well filled. At 6 years old when World War 2 was declared, his family were living close to London. He and his older sister joined hundreds of other children who were sent away from London to live in safer places. It was a lonely time for him; he missed his home and parents. Food was rationed, and some of the host families resented housing these children in their homes. Eventually his parents decided to take David back to London. He and other kids collected shrapnel, (bomb fragments,} after the raids, the hotter the shrapnel the higher the prize. Boys will be boys!  He walked 2 miles to and from school often finding streets closed off by bomb damage. His family attended whichever church might be open for worshipers.  He entered Latymer school in Hammersmith at 9 years old where he flourished in the drama classes after a farming machine accident on his uncle’s Essex farm had permanently damaged his right hand.

Latymer was founded in 1624 to educate eight ‘’poore boyes’ of the parish. It now has 1400 boys and girls enrolled, and a stellar reputation.

As a small child his mother read the Beatrix Potter stories to him which he eventually knew by heart.. This ability to memorize led him to perform in Shakespeare’s plays, usually preferring the role of the buffoon.

He wanted to work in the burgeoning TV industry but family pressure re directed his efforts into the aircraft industry, apprenticing and working for Vickers Armstrong where many of his long term friendships developed. A sailing group, the Brotherhood of Revelry formed  which convened in Norfolk every September to catch the wind on open stretches of water, known as the Broads, originally old peat workings that had flooded.

Filling the part of a bewigged flunky in an operetta, he met his future wife Madeleine.  A slow down of airplane sales had many Vickers’ employees looking for work elsewhere. Boeing was in the ascendancy, many of his friends had already hired on with Boeing. He arrived in Seattle in 1968, found it was good; he went back home a year later and married Madeleine on the eve of the USA landing on the moon. Exciting and risky times ensued. He was laid off in the 1970 crisis at Boeing, diversifying, helping with the Seattle Opera company, finally finding a caretakership job at a new recreational resort being developed by Weyerhauser in Thurston County. Pioneer family descendants made for interesting  neighbors. Three years later, with a one year old son Michael, he made the move to small town life in Puyallup, eventually re hiring at Boeing on the design team of their 757. He joined the Puyallup Kiwanis, with them he was a marshal in the annual Daffodil Parade among many other activities.

A company transfer to customer service allowed him travel to Hong Kong, Ecuador, Yemen, Israel. Europe etc.  He had a passion for cinema organ music, and learned to play a home size version. In retirement another move, this time to Bellingham where he joined the Mt. Baker theater organ club, and added to his collection of early radio and sound machines. Church and faith were essential to his life He was presented with the Bishops Cross service award in 2020 by Anglican Bishop Kevin Allen.

David had a quirky sense of humor, loved to tell jokes and stories to all who would listen, His “english’ voice captured the listener’s ear. He became a citizen of the United States in 1980 and kept many good friends whom he cherished, never letting a birthday go by without a card..

He leaves behind his wife of 53 years Madeleine, son Michael in Bellingham, and  brother Donald and wife Penny, nieces Margaret, Jacqui and Jennifer and two surviving cousins in England.

Memorial donations can be made to St. Brendan’s organ and music fund, Seattle Children’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, The Whatcom Humane Society, or a charity of your choice to help children.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Brendan’s Anglican Church in the Central Lutheran Church Building, 925 Forest Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 at 1:30 on Saturday, December 10th.