David Arthur Easton
August 2, 2017 at 4:18 p.m.
By -
BOWLING GREEN — David Arthur Easton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and proud former United States Marine, died peacefully July 29. He was 85.
Mr. Easton was a resident of Bowling Green, Ky., and a former longtime resident of Chicago, Ill.; Warsaw; and Gallatin, Tenn.
He was born during the Great Depression on March 15, 1932, on Chicago’s South Side. His parents were Albert Easton, a Canadian immigrant who worked in a lumberyard, and Janet Duncan Easton, a homemaker.
A proud American who loved his country, Mr. Easton volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18. He bravely served as a mortar gunner during the Korean War from 1951-54. Upon being honorably discharged, he went to work for the world’s largest commercial printer, R.R. Donnelley and Sons in Chicago. Missing the brotherhood of his fellow Marines and a more disciplined lifestyle, Mr. Easton re-enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corps in 1957. During his second stint, he reported to the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1962.
In Belgium, he met and married Barbara, his devoted wife of 56 years. The couple moved to Rabat, Morocco, where Mr. Easton worked in communications for the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State until 1966. He resumed his career with R.R. Donnelley and Sons, which took the family to Indiana, Connecticut, Tennessee and Mexico. Mr. Easton retired from the company in 1994.
Together, Dave and Barbara raised three children. Mr. Easton was a hard-working provider who was generous with his love, laughter and stories. He delighted in illustrating cards with witty poems or jokes for family and friends. In his retirement, he wrote a book about his time in Korea, “Leatherneck Sea Stories: Recollections of Marines, Korea and the Corps of the 1950s,” which was published in 2007.
Mr. Easton most enjoyed spending time with his family, skiing, tennis and traveling the world with Barbara. Of all his life’s successes, he was proudest of his five grandchildren. He will always be remembered for his strength of character, his courage and devotion to his family.
Mr. Easton was preceded in death by his parents, brother William Easton; and Duncan, his faithful Welsh corgi.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters, Cindy Rhodes (Ed), Menomonie, Wis., and Elizabeth Forbes (Lukas), Bowling Green, Ky.; a son, David Easton II (Jennifer) Hendersonville, Tenn.; and sister, Gladys Hanson, Merrillville. Mr. Easton’s five grandchildren include Andrew Rhodes, Jacob and Elijah Easton, and Grace and Patrick Forbes.
Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1215 State St., Bowling Green. A memorial service and interment in the church columbarium will follow at 3 p.m.
*****
Memorials to the Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102 PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057; or www.semperfifund.org .
BOWLING GREEN — David Arthur Easton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and proud former United States Marine, died peacefully July 29. He was 85.
Mr. Easton was a resident of Bowling Green, Ky., and a former longtime resident of Chicago, Ill.; Warsaw; and Gallatin, Tenn.
He was born during the Great Depression on March 15, 1932, on Chicago’s South Side. His parents were Albert Easton, a Canadian immigrant who worked in a lumberyard, and Janet Duncan Easton, a homemaker.
A proud American who loved his country, Mr. Easton volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18. He bravely served as a mortar gunner during the Korean War from 1951-54. Upon being honorably discharged, he went to work for the world’s largest commercial printer, R.R. Donnelley and Sons in Chicago. Missing the brotherhood of his fellow Marines and a more disciplined lifestyle, Mr. Easton re-enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corps in 1957. During his second stint, he reported to the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1962.
In Belgium, he met and married Barbara, his devoted wife of 56 years. The couple moved to Rabat, Morocco, where Mr. Easton worked in communications for the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State until 1966. He resumed his career with R.R. Donnelley and Sons, which took the family to Indiana, Connecticut, Tennessee and Mexico. Mr. Easton retired from the company in 1994.
Together, Dave and Barbara raised three children. Mr. Easton was a hard-working provider who was generous with his love, laughter and stories. He delighted in illustrating cards with witty poems or jokes for family and friends. In his retirement, he wrote a book about his time in Korea, “Leatherneck Sea Stories: Recollections of Marines, Korea and the Corps of the 1950s,” which was published in 2007.
Mr. Easton most enjoyed spending time with his family, skiing, tennis and traveling the world with Barbara. Of all his life’s successes, he was proudest of his five grandchildren. He will always be remembered for his strength of character, his courage and devotion to his family.
Mr. Easton was preceded in death by his parents, brother William Easton; and Duncan, his faithful Welsh corgi.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters, Cindy Rhodes (Ed), Menomonie, Wis., and Elizabeth Forbes (Lukas), Bowling Green, Ky.; a son, David Easton II (Jennifer) Hendersonville, Tenn.; and sister, Gladys Hanson, Merrillville. Mr. Easton’s five grandchildren include Andrew Rhodes, Jacob and Elijah Easton, and Grace and Patrick Forbes.
Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1215 State St., Bowling Green. A memorial service and interment in the church columbarium will follow at 3 p.m.
*****
Memorials to the Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102 PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057; or www.semperfifund.org .
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