David Joseph Twichell, 74, of Ashville, N.Y., died Tuesday (Nov. 6, 2012), under the care of Hospice.
David was born Aug. 26, 1938, in Buffalo, N.Y., the eldest of five children of the late David Weston and Loreene Rose Wunsch Twichell.
David was a 1956 graduate of Kenmore High School, a 1960 graduate of Clarkson College of Technology, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, and in 1990 received his masters in business administration degree from St. Bonaventure University, where he was inducted into the Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society in business administration.
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David J. Twichell
From 1960 to 1962, he served active duty in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1970, attaining the rank of captain. He also earned his professional engineer's license.
He was a Jamestown-area resident since 1962, and was employed by the Blackstone Corporation as a project, research and development engineer. He retired from the Valeo Corporation in December 2003 after 41 years of service.
As a Boy Scout, he went on a weeklong canoe trip to Algonquin Park and became an Eagle Scout in 1954. In the local area, he was a counselor for the Ad Altare Dei Religious Award for many Boy Scouts. He also served as an assistant scoutmaster and committee chairman for Troop 131.
David enjoyed woodworking, the outdoors, photography and boating. His family was his pride and joy.
He was a very active communicant of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lakewood, where he served as a Eucharistic minister for 35 years. He also faithfully visited the homebound parishioners and was a member of the former Holy Name Society.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah "Sally" Hendrickson Twichell, whom he married Nov, 8, 1975, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church; a daughter Susanna Sarah (Shawn) Petiya of Peninsula, Ohio; a son, Jerome David (Jaclyn) Twichell of Williamsville, N.Y. He was "Papa Dave" to three grandchildren: Lucas David and Avery Isabella Petiya of Peninsula, and Anna Elizabeth Twichell of Williamsville. He is also survived by his siblings: Allan (Marge) Twichell of Florida, Barbara Moffett of West Ellicott, Jeanne (Hayward) Halaby of North Ridgeville, Ohio, and Deborah (David) Kjornsborg of Celoron, N.Y.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a niece, Kristi Chrispell.
Friends are invited to call at the Lind Funeral Home on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 4 to 8 p.m., where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 3:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lakewood. The Rev. Joseph M. Dowdell, pastor, will be celebrant. Interment will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 380 E. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750; or to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fair-mount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.
You may light a candle in remembrance of David at www.lindfuneralhome.com.
