LEWISTON — Davis Ivan Richardson, 84, of New Gloucester, formerly of Auburn, passed away on Dec. 16, with his loving family by his side, at the Central Maine Medical Center following a brief illness.

He was born in Livermore Falls on May 19, 1926, the son of Ivan and Millicent Moshier Richardson. He attended school in Livermore Falls, but moved to Portland in 1942 where he attended Deering High School. Returning to Livermore Falls, he then attended Livermore Falls High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.

In 1943, immediately following his 17th birthday, he left school and joined the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Eastland, an amphibious assault ship (APA) carrying troops and supplies to islands in the South Pacific and supplies to China. A Storekeeper Second Class, he was a member of beach parties that conducted amphibious assaults on South Pacific islands including Okinawa and Ie Shima, where they were subjected to heavy fire from kamikaze attacks. He commissioned the ship in Astoria, Ore., and decommissioned it after the war in Newport News, Va. He was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal with one star and the Philippine Liberation Medal with one star.

Dave left the Navy in 1946 and settled in Auburn, working for his father in the James Street Market grocery store on the corner of James and Court streets. In 1951 he bought the store. In 1964, he moved the business to 375 Court Street to a much larger store and renamed the business Dave’s Market. He successfully ran this business until he sold it in 1985.

After the service, he played basketball, baseball and softball in the Lewiston-Auburn leagues that sprouted up after the war. He also played in two bowling leagues and enjoyed tennis and skiing. Dave enjoyed golf, playing intermittently in the ’70s and ’80s. He was a faithful fan of his children’s involvement in all activities, seldom missing a football or baseball game, track or ski meet. He was active in the Auburn Grandstand Club, a booster organization for high-school sports, and he served a term as president. He managed the Dave’s Market senior division team in the Auburn Suburban Little League, a team he sponsored for many years. He also served as president of the Auburn Suburban Little League. He later coached the New Auburn Legion baseball team. He is a member of this Legion Post as well as a lifetime member of the Auburn VFW.

A longtime member of the Fairlawn Country Club, Dave became an active golfer after he sold Dave’s Market in 1985. He played in the 19th Hole Golf League in the New Gloucester-Gray area and in many Fairlawn golf tournaments over the years. Among his proudest accomplishments was winning the A Flight Championship in 1991 and earning runner-up honors the following year.

Dave joined the Maine State Golf Association (MSGA) and played in their weekly tournaments. In 1988 he began work with the MSGA as their scorer, handicapper and tournament director. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 2005. During this time he also scored all MSGA special events. He enjoyed doing them all, but his favorite was the annual father-son tournament held at Natanis Country Club. He loved hearing the little guys give their dads heck for missing a shot. During these years, he saw great changes including moving from paper records to laptop computers to the GHIN System, a scoring system he felt made golf fairer for all players. Dave served as a Director for the MSGA and was inducted into the Maine State Golf Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dave was a 62-year member of Auburn’s Tranquil Lodge, AF and AM. Additionally, he was a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of the Androscoggin, Lewiston Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar and Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston. He served as a Trustee of the Gray-New Gloucester FOE Airie 4131.

Dave is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary O’Connor Richardson; sons Davis and his wife, Barbi, of Boyds, Md., Barry and his wife, Deborah Bugel, of Auburn, Brian and his wife, Kathleen, of Ringoes, N.J.; daughter Debra of New Gloucester; sister Shirley Cloutier Watson of Hubbardston, Mass.; eight grandchildren, Davis O. Richardson, Shannon Wall, Ashley Gagnon, Lindsay Richardson, Erin Hamlin, Robert Houle and Kelsey and Kyle Richardson; and six great-grandchildren, Lila, Ava, Grace, Dylan, Colin and Alaina.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Richardson family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.