MECHANIC FALLS – After a long courageous battle with bladder cancer, David Charles Stimson, 81, passed away at home, as he wished, with his family at his side on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Born Nov. 11, 1942, the eldest child of three to Ruth Nason Stimson and Walter Winfield Stimson, he was raised in Mechanic Falls, graduating from Mechanic Falls High School in 1961.

In March of 1962, he married Nina Mae Miles and went on to raise five children in Mechanic Falls.

He became a Mechanic Falls Fire Fighter as a teenager, served 62 years, and retired in 2019. Additionally, he became the Emergency Management Director for Mechanic Falls, retiring after 30 years of service.

During these years, he was employed by Marcal Paper Mill in Mechanic Falls. For a short time he was then employed as an assistant with Smokey’s Greater Shows. Later he worked as a salesman for L & A Tire Company in Lewiston. He and Nina purchased The Store in 1982, eventually selling the business to their youngest daughter and son-in-law in 2002.

Combining his dream of owning a restaurant with his passion for trains, he then opened the Rail Station Restaurant in Mechanic Falls, providing an opportunity for his patrons to enjoy the trains passing by, the way his children and grandchildren did, counting the cars to the caboose and waving to the engineer and conductor as it passed by their home.

He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in New Gloucester and a member of the American Legion Post #150 in Mechanic Falls.

His hobbies included gardening, golfing and fishing with close friends. He was an avid golfer and a former member of the MSGA, Fairlawn Golf Club and Poland Spring Golf Association. David enjoyed traveling and playing the courses in Nebraska, South Carolina and Florida while visiting with family and close friends and scored four holes-in-one over the years.

He is survived by his wife Nina Mae Stimson; his five children, twins Deborah Strout and husband Elwood of Minot and son Scott Stimson and wife Henim of Papillion, Neb., daughters Linda Larrivee and husband Jonathan of Littleton, N.H., Barbara Cleary of Mechanic Falls, and Diana Roy and husband Larry of Mechanic Falls; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, his stepmother, Viola Stimson of Utah; a brother William Rodney Stimson of Utah, a sister Nancy Ruth Stimson of Mechanic Falls; a grandson PFC Barry Daniel Smith of Littleton, N.H.; and a great grandson Michael Harriman of Rochester, N.H.

Family and friends may attend visitation on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a Fireman’s funeral at 1 p.m. at Chandler Funeral Home, 26 W. Dwinal St., Mechanic Falls. Interment will be in the spring at Gracelawn Memorial Park in Auburn.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers,

donations in his memory may be made to:

Mechanic Falls

Fireman’s Association

108 Lewiston St.

Mechanic Falls, ME 04256

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