David F. Elwell, 95, long time
resident of Essex Park Road, Essex, and husband of the late
Margaret I. (Thomas) Elwell, died Tuesday, December 13, 2011 in the
Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Gloucester following his
long illness.
Born January 17, 1916 at his
present home on Essex Park Road, known then as the Burnham Place,
home to his late parents Zeno and Edna W. (Burnham) Elwell. David
was raised in Essex, a 1934 graduate of the Essex High School and a
1937 graduate of Essex Agricultural & Technical School.
As a young man he worked his father’s farm on John Wise Avenue known
today as the Giddings Farm. Upon the passing of his father he moved
to Western Avenue known today as Essex Park Road and worked his
mother’s farm until he retired from farming in 1965. He went on to
work at the Ipswich Dairy and then West Lynn Creamery from which
he retired in 1981. In the following years he worked at the Essex
Richdale until he had to stop to care for his wife.
David will be long remembered for his great smiles and enthusiasm.
He was active with the Seniors Council on Aging enjoying their
many trips and line dances. He was a daily regular, making sure
that the coffee was made upon the arrival of others. He stopped
going down on a regular basis at the age of ninety-three but still
went to their luncheons and still enjoyed going out to lunch at the
various area restaurants.
David
has been a member of the First Congregational Church in Essex since
1932, a member of the Essex Grange #381 where he and Margaret
married in 1941, Essex Council on Aging and was a past member of
the Essex Lions Club.
He is survived by his daughter
Dorothy Elwell of Essex; granddaughters Paula Johnson of Essex and
Patricia Brown wife of Christopher Brown of Gonic, NH; great-
granddaughter Miranda Ashley James Johnson of
Salisbury; great-grandson Andrew James Manual Brown of Gonic, NH;
many nephews and nieces and his best friends Brian Browning of
Essex and Richard Hopkins of Topsfield whom was like a son to him.
In addition to his wife David was predeceased by his
brother Gilman Elwell; half sisters Mary Lillis and Elizabeth
Fuller; sister-in-law Francis Elwell and sons-in-law James Blaisdell
and Stephen Brown..
His funeral service will be held 10
am Saturday, December 17, in the First Congregational Church of
Essex, followed by interment in the Spring Street Cemetery, Essex.
Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours are
Friday 4 to 8 pm in the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street,
Ipswich. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to First
Congregational Church of Essex, 39 Main Street, Essex, MA 01929.
