David Henry Beach, 92, of Dover, New Hampshire and formerly of Portsmouth, Newmarket and Byfield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 31, 2022 at his home surrounded by loving family. David was born in Northampton, MA on February 19, 1930, a son of the late Galen H. and Lillian (Keith) Beach. He shared over 40 years of beautiful marriage with his late wife, Loretta (Gleason) Beach, who died in 2020. Previously married for 25 years to his first wife Norma Powell formerly Norma Dargie Beach.
He was raised in Southampton, MA and graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA in 1948. David went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Northeastern University in 1954 and shortly after graduation he enlisted in the United States Army. David served his country honorably for 3 years in post-war Germany, returned home and settled in Byfield, MA to raise his family. An avid family man with all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren throughout the years. He attended Byfield Parish Church in the earlier years serving as a deacon and singing in the choir for many of those years. He accepted a position as a Systems Analyst with Western Electric where he worked for over 31 years until his retirement. Many of those years were with Bell Labs in Andover, Mass. where he was instrumental in research and development of new phone communication systems.
David married Loretta in 1980 and they settled in Newburyport, MA. David and Loretta met while performing with the former New Essex Players of Newburyport and had acted in 11 theatrical shows together. David was also an avid barbershop quartet singer and enjoyed it immensely. Singing many barbershop and patriotic songs at random until his passing. After both retired, David and Loretta purchased an RV and toured the United States for the next 3 years, making 4 round trip excursions around the country. They relocated to Portsmouth, NH in 2012 after 14 years in Newmarket and then moved to Dover, NH in 2018.
David is survived by his two sons, James Beach of Salisbury, MA and Jeffery Beach and his wife, Jane of Deerfield, NH, his daughter, Lauren Nauman and her husband, Paul of Hopkinton, MA, his stepdaughter, Nancy Vawter and her husband, Brian of Dover, his stepson, Jim Doyle and his wife, Stacie of Denver, CO. David also leaves 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, his sister, Leona Hendrick of Southampton, MA and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and his wife, David was predeceased by siblings, Warren Beach, Hazel Polis, Verna Slocum and Mabel Emerson.
Services will be private. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Friends In Action friendsinactionnh.org in his name.