David R. Blythe, Sr.

WALLINGFORD - David Robert Blythe, Sr. of Wallingford, passed away on June 7, 2023. He was the loving husband of the late Niavalene Y. Blythe of over 63 years and had been a Wallingford resident since 1960. Born on July 9, 1933 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Robert and Clara (Dropeski) Blythe. When he was young, the family moved to New Haven and thereafter to Hamden Connecticut.

   David attended Notre Dame High School in West Haven and the University of Connecticut where he was a member of Sigma Chi Alpha Fraternity, Air Force ROTC and graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, having majored in theatre.

   David was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956 and was assigned to the AG Classified Files Section, Western Command Headquarters, Kaiserslautern Germany and later, Northern Area Command, Frankfort Germany. David met Niavalene as they both served in the U.S. Army at Western Command Headquarters and they married in Kaiserslautern. During his service, he had the opportunity to travel and took many photographs while sightseeing in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

   After returning to the United States, he and Niavalene started to raise their family and David became employed by the Sherwin Williams Paint Company as manager. He managed the store on Center Street in Wallingford and subsequently moved the operation to its current location on North Colony Road. David was employed by the company for 36 years before retiring.

   David and Niavalene raised their children in Wallingford and he was active with them in activities such as Little League Baseball, hiking and camping. When he first moved to Wallingford he was a member of Most Holy Trinity Church and after purchasing his home, became a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church where he was a member for over fifty years. After his children grew and moved on, David found time to become a member of the Masonic Lodge #9 A.F. & A.M in Wallingford, a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Hartford and Sphinx Shrine in Newington, having served as Potentate in year 2000. He was a 33rd Degree Mason.

   David was predeceased by his parents and wife Niavalene who passed away in 2022. He is survived by his sister Lois Young of Wethersfield; children David Jr. (Alison) of Wallingford, Thomas of Farmington NH and Robert (Daisy) of Northford; five grandchildren Drew, Lauren, Jonathan (Kaitlin), Natasha and Nathan; and he was a great grandfather to Elara whom he had the pleasure of meeting this year for the first time. The family would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Masonicare and the Hospice staff at Masonicare Health Center in Wallingford for the care and compassion which David received in his final months of life.

   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday June 19, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 382 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford. Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours prior to Mass from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM at the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm Street, Wallingford. Burial will immediately follow at In Memoriam Cemetery.

   In lieu of flowers, donations in David's memory may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa FL 33607 or to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105. To leave a message of remembrance, please visit: www.BaileyCares.com
 

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