David Thomas Dunn

OXFORD – David Dunn, 63, of Oxford, passed away April 1, 2025, at Bridgton Hospital following a long illness. David often spoke of when thinking about someone’s life, we should tell the stories that mattered the most to them. There’s always a beginning, an end and everything in between. Here is, who David was.

He was born in Lewiston to Kathryn (Tully) Dunn and Edward Dunn on Feb. 6, 1962. He had a mischievous smile that he never lost, a beautiful head of blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He grew up in Turner and always spoke about his best days going to Bear Pond Park where he learned to be the champion mini golf player. This talent carried over to his regular golf game even though he didn’t think he was that good. He lived on what was called Mud Street and he spent days stealing from the garden and always trying to keep his best dog, Pal, from laying in the road. His favorite foods were salad, all fruits and a good steak.

During his school years, he rode the bus or hitchhiked to sports or other activities before he got his license. He worked on the farm for Bradford Beedy and told that one day when he was about 12, he drove the farm pick-up truck home for lunch. His mother was not impressed but that always made him smile. Many of his best memories were of him and his best friend, Bob Pratt, and the escapades they had during school. When David got his license, his first car was a purple Gremlin. While he was in the hospital he was reminiscing with his sister, about that car and how it was his favorite car. During high school he played baseball, football and went to Boys State. One of the boys states, Dad flew them to Bangor to attend the event, something he considered a very special moment. He loved to skeet shoot and was an excellent shot. He encouraged his daughter to try skeet shooting and she was a natural like her dad.

David was the senior class president and class marshal at Leavitt High School when he graduated with the class of 1980. He worked during school as an apprentice carpenter. When he graduated, he attended SMCC in the electrical program. Needless to say, he had fun while attending. On graduating, he was awarded one of two State of Maine Electrical Apprenticeships at BIW. After about six months, he was restless just wiring and walking around a ship, so he decided to go back to carpentry where he belonged.

David represented the Town of Oxford on the SAD 17 school board for many years. He was proud to serve his community and believed in the process, often times questioning what was possible instead of taking the same path.

He was an excellent carpenter, always making sure he did the best work. His last place of employment before he became ill was at Ware-Butler Building Supply. This job gave him the ability to use his creative skills with each house he helped design. David was very smart and exceptional with math. He could read blue prints and design trusses for the most complicated jobs and always figured out how to design something to make it work. He could do anything, build houses, fix cars, and paint his daughters’ fingernails. He always put everyone before himself. He would help anyone and always did it with a smile.

David loved traveling to Sanibel Island, Fla., his favorite destination. He loved going out with friends and building his own house. The greatest joy of David’s life was when his daughter Elizabeth was born. He thought the sun rose and set in her smile. David had fun picking her up with our dog, Hank, at elementary school in the red Cabriolet convertible called “the ice cream car.” He taught her to fish, shoot a gun, build her chicken coop and just to sit back and guess about the future. He instilled in her that she could do anything she set her mind to and she is.

He married Joan Davis on Sept. 28, 1985, at the Norlands. Even though there was a hurricane the night before that left the wedding venue in shambles, it was still a great day and we would do it all again.

He is survived by his loving family, his wife, Joan; and daughter Elizabeth; his brothers and their wives, Arthur and Diane Dunn of Minnesota, Chuck and Valerie Dunn of Greene, John and Diane Dunn of Turner and George and Betsy Dunn of Hartford, sisters Peggy Baker and husband Tad of York and Pat Hunt and husband Homer of Turner and Althea Gould of San Francisco, Calif. His love for his 19 nieces and nephews, along with his great-nieces and nephews, was genuine.

He was predeceased by his brother, Alfred and wife Karen; along with his mother and father.

It still does not seem like enough said about 63 years of a life well lived, but I am sure he would be pleased to know he could share his life’s best moments with the world. Stay kind and live a life of love and gratitude. We love you and will miss you, David. You will be in our hearts forever.

There will be no services at David’s request, but a celebration of life will be planned at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 45 Main St., South Paris. To make an online condolence please visit http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Because of David’s love for animals, especially dogs, please consider contributing to Responsible Pet Care in his name.