David Allen Whitcomb Sr. died Sunday June 2, 2024, at 11:00pm the Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts at the age of 84.
Dave was born on February 4, 1940 to Harold and Josephine Whitcomb at the Ayer Hospital, now known as Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, Massachusetts. He grew up at Springdale Farm in Littleton, Massachusetts and had so many happy memories from his childhood there.
Dave was a lifelong resident of Littleton, Massachusetts, living away for short periods of time while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, while being in the Army, and during his early career living and working in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Easthampton, Massachusetts. Other than these exceptions, the majority of Dave's life was lived in Littleton. Dave was passionate about history in general and specifically about Littleton's history, including the history of the Whitcomb family. He was very involved with the Littleton Historical Scoiety and was a source of knowledge and detail that often astounded those around him. Dave was a voracious reader on a variety of subjects, history always being his primary genre. He was also an avid nature lover and photographer, and spent many hours leisurely driving around Littleton and the environs with Sandy, looking at both the historical buildings and sites, as well as the present flora and fauna; there was a den of foxes off Sanderson Road that was well documented several years ago by Dave and Sandy - a testament to their passion for nature. Sandy shared Dave's passion for photography, and their combined works made up a number of the annual Historical Society Calendars. If you were fortunate enough to go on a Sunday drive with Dave (which could be any day of the week, mind you), you were the lucky recipient of numerous history lessons, stories, anecdotes, and visions of beauty in the natural world in and around you.
In his retirement, Dave took on community roles outside of the Historical Society, as he and Sandy volunteered for Meals on Wheels and activities at the Littleton Senior Center for many years. They both took an active role visiting the elderly and the sick in their local community by sending cards, providing food, or other necessities.
In recent years, Dave struggled with a number of health issues, mainly starting in 2016. He endured a lot, and every step of the way until the very end, his devoted wife Sandy stood by his side, caring for him when he could no longer care for himself, advocating for him when he could not advocate for himself, and remained his source of encouragement and love as his constant companion. Even through these recent years of medical ups and downs, when he was on the mend or feeling better, his thoughts always turned toward servitude to his local community in whatever way he could offer. In the past few months, Dave has multiple hospitalizations and health issues that he was not able to recover from this time, which came as a very sad surprise.
Dave will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and loved always.
Dave was the youngest of five children, and was predeceased by all four of his siblings; his sister Mildred McGovern, and his brothers Edward, William, and Harold Whitcomb. In addition to his siblings, Dave is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his third wife Sandy Tusia-Whitcomb of Littleton, Massachusetts; his children Debra Jo Whitcomb of Hollywood, Alabama, David Allen (Shelby) Whitcomb Jr. of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, Kelly Ann Whitcomb of Athol, Massachusetts, and Tracy Christine Whitcomb of St. Albans, Vermont; his grandchildren Connor Scott (Chelsea) Whitcomb of Athol, Massachusetts, Riley Anthony Whitcomb of Lewiston, Maine, Bailey Alejandro Whitcomb of Portland, Maine, and Grady Louis Whitcomb of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire; and last but not least, his great grandson Harrison Whitcomb of Lewiston, Maine, born earlier this year, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at a later date.
