David A. Smith, age 60, died Sunday, January 11, 2009 at the White River Junction Veterans Hospital after a valiant battle with a rare form of lung fibrosis attributed to his years in the Navy. David retired from the Navy in 1985, having served 21 years.  He experience four full years of active duty in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars among many other honors.

The son of Gordon and Mabel (Farnsworth) Smith, David was raised in Cornish, NH by his grandparents Eben and Nellie Farnsworth and at their death when David was a teen, by Shirley and Fred Sullivan.  David attended grade school in Cornish and was a 1966 graduate of Stevens High School.

At David’s Eagles up Farm in Cornish and New London he raised beagles that were well known at many trials in the USA and Canada.  Among other activities in his life, David served as an official Maine Guide.  He was an avid outdoorsman and will be tremendously missed by so many of his friends and relatives with whom he fished and hunted.  In July, due to the sudden deterioration of his health, David had to terminate his job as head of security from the Eastman Community after 18 years.

David’s son Matthew and family, Danielle, Elijah and Luke were supremely supportive along with the tremendous support of HOSPICE that allowed him to remain at home as long as possible.  He is survived by an aunt and many cousins in the Barnstead area as well as a daughter, Carrie, in Penacook.  He was predeceased by his brother, Bruce, in 1968 who was serving in the Navy. 

In lieu of a public funeral, there will be a celebration and memorial to be held at the Holiday Inn, Concord, NH on February 20^th in conjunction with a benefit planned for Dave’s close friend and cousin, Tim Smith, a recently injured Barnstead firefighter who is currently in a coma at Dartmouth Hitchcock.

Contributions in Dave’s memory would be welcome at the Connecticut Valley HOSPICE and the HOSPICE unit at the VA Hospital in White River Jct., VT.