David Norman Machell

WHITEFIELD - David Norman Machell, 92, passed away quietly on December 29

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, 2015 with family by his side.  He was born on July 9

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, 1923 in Whitefield, NH to parents Arthur R. Machell and Lillian May (McIntyre) Machell who lived in Gilman, VT.  Dave attended elementary school in Gilman.  In 1936 the family moved to the North Littleton Road in Littleton, NH so that David and his two brothers could attend Littleton High School where he graduated in 1940.

After working for a year he enrolled in Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA.  With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December in December of 1941 and the start of WWII, David became interested in the numerous accounts of German submarine attacks on merchant shipping along the US east coast and joined the Merchant Shipping Marine at the end of his freshman year.  In November of 1942 he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps as an armorer.  He served in Italy and was discharged in February of 1946.

Following the war he completed his education at the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 1950.  It was there that he met fellow student Marjorie Englert of New Rochelle, NY, a former Army Nurse who served in England during the war.  The two were married in June of 1948.

David continued his education in the NY State University system while teaching elementary school in Lake George and Glens Falls, NY.  He later entered the school administration field and worked in Berlin, Cortland, and Red Hook, NY.  He retired from the NY School System in 1979 and returned to his home town of Littleton, NH.  He served as Assistant Superintendent of Supervisory Union 35, Assistant Principal and Interim Principal of Littleton High School before finally retiring in 1985.

David was a wonderful husband, brother, father, grandfather, educator, and friend.  He passed on his passion for the outdoors to his children and grandchildren.  He was an avid reader and fire arms enthusiast and lived a life of generosity and caring.  He and Marjorie created a cozy home on Burns Lake in Whitefield that was filled with reloading equipment, hand crafted baskets, quilting, books, games, and homemade everything.  It was a wonderful place for family and friends to gather.  He liked nothing more than watching his grandchildren grown up together.

David always treated people with respect and human dignity and was a great role model to all who encountered him.  He will be fondly remembered for the endless ditties that he sang and the unique expressions that he applied to daily life and subtly delivered at the most appropriate times.

David is predeceased by his wife Marjorie and older brother Arthur Machell.  He is survived by a younger brother William Machell and wife Lura of Nashua and five children; Janet Draves and husband Richard of Rhinebeck, NY, Dan Machell of Glens Falls, NY, Ruth Julianelle and husband Tony of Underhill, VT, Gwenn Madea and husband Robert of Newmarket, NH and Margaret Corey and husband Peter of Whitefield.   He has eleven grandchildren; Anna Draves of Boston, MA, John Machell of Bend, OR, David Machell of Colorado Springs, CO, Claire and Adele Julianelle of Underhill, VT, Andy, Paul & Kelsey Madea of Newmarket, NH and Kerstin, Dana, & Joe Corey of Whitefield, NH.  He also has four great-grandchildren; Marjorie and Francine Machell of Bend, OR and Scarlett and Hunter Machell of Colorado Springs, CO.

A memorial service will be held Monday January 4

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at 11:00 AM at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Whitefield, NH.  Burial with military honors will be held in the spring in Park Street Cemetery, Whitefield.

In lieu of flowers donation may be made in David's memory to the Whitefield Public Library, 8 Lancaster Road, Whitefield, NH 03598.