ROCKPORT – David Christie Whitson, 76, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, at Windward Gardens in Camden from prostate cancer. He was born Oct. 14, 1928, in Washington, D.C., the son of William Warren and Edna Scott Whitson. The family moved to Toms River, N.J., where he grew up spending, never to be forgotten summers sailing on the rivers and Barnegat Bay. He was a graduate of Toms River High School, the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., and Rutgers University with a BA in history. On Aug. 19, 1950, he married the former Nancy Margaret Jordan in Teaneck, N.J. After finishing college, the couple moved to Toms River where their children were born. Dave began his association with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., in Philadelphia. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. Dave was active in the Boy Scouts of America as scout master, and council finance chairman, receiving the Silver Beaver award in 1966. In 1970, the family vacationed in Maine for the first time and impulsively bought a house. They moved to Union in June of 1971 and then to Rockport in 1976. Dave was a Penn Mutual Life Insurance agent for more than 50 years earning his Chartered Life Underwriter’s designation in 1973. In addition to his family, boats were his consuming interest. He loved sailing, racing, cruising, teaching, even power boats as he got older. He enjoyed restoring and working on boats, and always had several for use on different bodies of water. Dave liked people and derived great enjoyment from helping those in need. He was an enthusiastic member of the Episcopal Church of St. John Baptist in Thomaston where he served as lector, chalice bearer, junior warden, and finance committee chairman. He is survived by his wife, Nancy J. Whitson of Rockport; two daughters, Laura Lawson and her husband, Ken, of Duxbury, Mass.; Mary Lou French and her husband, Joe, of Rockport; grandchildren, Joe French and Laura French, both of Rockport; Madison Lawson, Perry Lawson and Brie Lawson, all of Duxbury, Mass.; a brother, William S. Whitson and his wife, Susie, of Forked River, N.J.; a sister-in-law, Sally D. Peniz and her husband, Claude of Tucson, Ariz.; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his son, Thomas David Whitson, who died in 1986. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, at the Episcopal Church of St. John Baptist in Thomaston with the Rev. Peter Jenks officiating. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Episcopal Church of St. John Baptist, Main Street, 200 Main St., Thomaston, ME 04861; Rockport Public Library, P.O. Box 8, Rockport, ME 04856. Arrangements are with the Laite Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.
DAVID C. WHITSON
