David Eugene Fairfield, SFC-retired, of Westport Island, died peacefully on Sunday, June 16, 2013. A man truly devoted to his family and his country, he will be missed by all who knew him.

David, born the eldest son of Effie Mitchell on January 28, 1930 was raised in Jaffrey, N.H., by his adopted parents, Grover and Amy Fairfield. After graduating from high school, David enlisted in the Army and set off on the adventure of his lifetime.

Among the first of many places that David would be stationed around the world, was Ft. Dix, N.J. While stationed there David met the woman he shared his life and adventures with, Ella Belle Frace. David and Ella were married on December 22, 1950. They were married for 61 years before an illness would take her from him.

While in the Army, David traveled the world; not only with our own military, but those of foreign countries as well. A skilled linguist, David was assigned as an interpreter to instruct, and work with several foreign armies during the course of his 20-year career.

Throughout his career, David was accompanied by his wife, and their 6 children who were born in different locations around the world.

David and Ella permanently settled in Westport Island in 1973 after David’s retirement from the Army. David would continue to work and travel as a civilian contractor for the military for several years thereafter, working in Vietnam, Thailand and Iran. He later retired a second time after several years working for the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Brunswick and then Bath Iron Works.

Never one to slow down, David went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maine at Augusta, then continued on to earn a master's degree in business administration from New Hampshire College in 1979.

A doting grandfather, David passed on a love for many of his favorite pastimes and hobbies including gardening, fishing, and “tinkering” to his grandchildren. Always at least one project going, “Grampa” always had at least one or two grandkids as his “assistants” at any given time. Teaching them valuable skills and captivating them with stories of his Army adventures.

In 2000, David and Ella began raising their great-grandson, David Jr.; it was the newest chapter of the adventure story that was their lives. Raising young David into a thriving young man defined their daily lives. They were always active supporters of all of his activities including school, swim and karate. Even to his last days, the welfare of young David was always his grandfather’s primary concern.

David was predeceased by his wife, Ella, and his brother, Robert Fairfield.

He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Banta of both Topsham and Venice, Fla. His legacy is carried on by his children, Patricia Asbury and her husband Terence of Knoxville Tenn.; Eugene Fairfield and his wife Anne of Westport Island; Joanne Lipe and her husband Ronald of Collierville Tenn.; Robert Fairfield and his wife Katharine of Bolton Mass.; Roberta Littlefield and her husband Robert of Old Town and James Fairfield of Fremont, Calif.

His memory will be cherished by his 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for David will be held at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, on Civic Center Drive, in Augusta. He will be interred with his beloved wife Ella in the niche wall near The Chapel at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 20 with full military honors.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home, Richmond.