David Kenneth (Sr.) Tufts

David Tufts, loving husband, father, and friend to many passed away at home on April 8, 2025 at the age of 75, from Alzheimer’s Disease. 

David was born on December 17, 1949 in Rochester, NH. He lived his entire life on “the Ridge” in Wells. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Karen, children David Jr, Stephanie, Jeffrey, Kaitlin and Joshua (Katie) and granddaughter Charlotte, his brother Marcus (Vicki) as well as several nieces and nephews. David was predeceased by his parents Arthur and Sheila and siblings Alice and Hazen. David will be deeply missed by all he loved and who loved him.

David graduated from Wells High School in 1968 where he was a valued, and competitive, member of the basketball, football and track teams. Following graduation he worked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for forty-two years, starting as an electrician apprentice and advancing through the ranks before retiring at 62 as a Production Resource Specialist. He then worked part-time at Home Depot for five years before retiring permanently. 

David loved being outdoors, whether it was hunting, fishing, golfing with his buddies or tending his garden and fruit trees. He and the family made many memories at the family camp on Great East Lake where he liked nothing better than fishing, swimming, driving the boat and towing the kids and their friends on tubing adventures and later on water skis or just cruising around the lake. He loved watching his children participate in sports, marching band, concerts and plays through the years. He researched and learned about growing fruit trees beginning with apple trees but then branching out to include peach, cherry, pear, and grapevines in his orchard.  He successfully grafted different varieties of apples onto a host tree and was particularly interested in heirloom apples. He enjoyed making cider in the fall, experimenting with different varieties of apples and ways of making hard cider which occasionally led to a bottle explosion here and there, much to his wife’s dismay!

David was also happy to have more opportunities for travel after retirement visiting with friends in Arizona, going to Hawaii and Japan as well as several National Parks on the West Coast. 

Visiting hours will be at Johnson’s Funeral Home in North Berwick on Saturday, APRIL 19  from 10 to 11:30 with a chance to share memories at 11:30 immediately followed by a

Celebration of Life Luncheon 12:30-3:00 pm at For the Love of Food and Drink at Saltwater Farm 411 Post Road Wells, ME 04090

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Kenneth (Sr.) Tufts, please visit our floral store.