ALBANY – David Paul Salway, 63, of Songo Pond Road, Albany, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, March 28, after a five-year courageous battle with lung cancer.

He was born in Portland, June 13, 1942, the son of Paul James Salway of Greenfield, Mass. and Kathryn Morgan of Bethel. He spent most of his life under the loving care of his maternal grandmother, Lillian Morgan. He attended Ethel Bisbee School and Crescent Park Elementary School. He graduated from Gould Academy in 1961, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He attended Husson College in Bangor where he was an accounting major. As a young man, he spent summers working as a caddie at the Bethel Inn and later for John Harrington and Harold Rolfe.

In 1963, he married Norma Jean Kimball. He worked for Joe Gagnon in Rumford and also for Farrar Brown Co. After moving to Albany he became a bookkeeper for Hanover Dowel Co. where he worked for several years before becoming a life insurance agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

While attending life insurance school in New York City, he had the privilege to meet his aunt for the first time, Sister Mary Virginia (Salway). During the year, 1968, he earned an award for meritorious service and sales accomplishments for Metropolitan. He and his wife also enjoyed a leadership trip to Puerto Rico. For the next 35 years, he worked for Kendall Insurance Co. in Bethel. He retired in 2003, due to declining health.

He was active in many community organizations throughout his lifetime. He was a member of Bethel Lodge 97, A.F. & A.M., former member of the Bethel Rotary Club, Telstar Athletic Association, past president and director of Songo Pond Cemetery Association. He helped organize the Save Our Songo Lake Association, served as a Sunday school teacher at the Congregational Church, and was a former Cub Scout den leader.

For many years he diligently served as the treasurer of the Albany Improvement Association. In 1972, he and his wife served as co-chairpersons of the Bethel Living Nativity. He loved sports and served as a coach of the Bethel Little League for several years. He was a Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots fan. An avid golfer, he was a member of the Kezar Lake Country Club.

A long-time runner, he was known for his 4-mile daily morning treks along Route 5. He had several hobbies, including caring for Bonsai trees. At one time, he traveled to Woolwich to study under Bonsai expert Arthur Davis. He enjoyed feeding the birds, growing tomato plants and caring for his pets. He was an excellent cook and was known for his baked beans and pizza. He was also known for his knitting projects.

Along with his wife, he enjoyed trips to Canada, especially Montreal. He always loved trains, and loved trips on the Polar Express with his grandchildren. His favorite love was being “Beepuh” to his four grandchildren and attending family gatherings. He was well-known and loved throughout the town for his Irish wit and for spreading his doses of daily cheer and pokes of fun.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of 42 years, Norma K. Salway; his daughter, Kathryn (Kassi) Gatchell, and son-in-law, Bernie Gatchell, of Portland; a son, Brandon Salway and daughter-in-law, Tara, of Old Orchard Beach; his cherished grandchildren, Kaity, Daniel, and Kiaya Gatchell, and Kyle Salway; his brother, Barry Salway, and his wife, Ginevra, of Laconia, N.H.; his stepfather, Ronald Hennan of Saugus, Mass.; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his mother, Kathryn Salway Hennan; father, Vincent Paul Salway; grandmother, Lillian Morgan; and brother, Paul James Salway.

A special thank you to Dr. Medd, Dr. DeCarolis, and the caregivers of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for all their wonderful care and support extended to David and his family during his long illness.