David M. Darling

David M. Darling, age 88, of Bellingham formerly of Medfield, Franklin and Mashpee, died peacefully at Medway Country Manor on Monday, September 21st, after a short illness.

Born on August 12, 1938 in Milford, MA, the son of Jesse Darling and Eva (Symmes) Darling. David was raised in Medfield, but lived most of his life in Franklin, Massachusetts.

He was the husband of Doris Bourgeois-Darling for the past 29 years.

He is survived by his two sons, John L. Darling and his wife Laura of Nashua, NH, and David William Darling and his wife Dr. Tina Richards of East Bridgewater, MA.

He is also survived by his brother-in-law William Cotter and his family, his sister-in-law Helen Darling and her family and Several very special cousins, nephews, nieces and 3 great nephews.

He was predeceased by his son’s mother, Mary F. Cotter, who died in 1993 and by his two brothers James and Daniel, and one brother who died in infancy.

He also leaves 6 step children, Marcel Bourgeois (Marian), Janice Flinton (Jim), John Bourgeois, Jamie Bourgeois (Tracy), Mark Bourgeois (Kristine), Lori-Ann Zajac (Matt) and his seventeen step-grandchildren who loved him dearly.

David played football for Medfield High School during his 4 years and graduated in 1956. He enlisted in the Army and spent most of his Army career in Turkey. Upon his return to civilian life he attended Stockbridge School of Agriculture. He loved farming, gardening and landscaping and performed those trades all his active life. He enjoyed the miracle of every flower, vegetable or fruit that grew from his labor. He spent nearly 30 years as a Town of Wellesley park and field employee and owned a landscaping business.

After his retirement in 2000, he and his wife moved to Mashpee where he volunteered at Christ the King Church food pantry, and worked as a tour bus driver at Heritage Plantation in Sandwich.

He loved all types of music and all sports. He was in a Barbershop group for some time and a member of St. Brendan’s Church choir for several years.

He was a kind and generous gentleman to all who knew him and he will be sorely missed

To all his step grandchildren who loved him dearly he was known as “Papa Dave”.

Calling hours are Friday Sept. 25th, from 4-7PM at Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. Franklin, Massachusetts.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Saturday Sept. 26th, at 9am from the Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Brendan Parish 384 Hartford Avenue Bellingham, MA 02019 at 10AM.

Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Franklin.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be sent to the American Heart Association, or Dana Farber Cancer Research

Guestbook www.franklinfuneral.com