Obituary of David W Skaling

TOPSHAM – We are saddened to announce the loss of our much-loved husband, father and grandfather. David W. Skaling, 62, passed away sleeping peacefully in his home holding hands with his beloved wife of 40 years, early morning on December 25, 2016. David was born at Mercy hospital in Portland, Maine December 25, 1954 and was adopted by James Wilfred Skaling and Pauline Lillian Starrett. He attended Brunswick grade school and was recruited on a skiing scholarship to Kent’s Hill prep school. He met his wife Elizabeth S. Herrick in 1973; they married on Bethel Point in Cundy’s Harbor, Maine in 1976. Thus began 40 more years of fun and adventure together and raising two lovely daughters. David loved skiing, sailing, hunting, and fishing, but most of all he loved his family. David was a man of all trades having various different careers but his favorite was working in the foothills of the Revelation Mountain Chain in Alaska gold mining. He was a talented skier and even shared a couple fun runs one morning with Olympic Gold medalist, Tommy Moe at Sugarloaf. As a family we spent our summer weekends sailing along the coast of Maine. He raced sailboats in the Caribbean and Bermuda among many other sailing adventures. Even surviving capsizing and righting the boat during hurricane Hugo in the Caribbean! In his Kent’s Hill years he attended soccer camp with the great Pelé who told him little guys like us just need to play with finesse and let the bigger guys take the hits! That year Kent’s Hill soccer team won the State Championship. David’s father was an avid outdoorsman and taught David to hunt and fish from early childhood on. He never missed a fall hunting season if he could help it. David was a great lover of the outdoors, animal life and an able marksman but to our knowledge he only shot one deer and did so with tears in his eyes. He is survived by his loving wife Beth, his daughters, Abbie E. Barbour, her husband Todd and their daughter Lily and Anna R. Henderson, her husband Jason and their daughter Grace. Over the past several years one of his many nephews, Nicholas T. Parsons was invited to make the Skaling home his home and was loved as a son. David had the privilege of seeing his granddaughters every day. He loved having the little girls running around outside and in the house. They were the light of his life and warmed his heart until his final days. He is also survived by his sister Mindy and her children. He was predeceased by his parents, James Wilfred Skaling in 2000 and Pauline Lillian Skaling in 2002. We would like to express a sincere thank you to all of the friends and family who supported us through this time. With special thank you to his final two employers, Harpswell Coastal Academy and Home Snuggers. Thank you to New England Cancer Specialists and CHANS, with special thanks to his Caregiver Greg Gibson. Your kindness, generosity and sensitivity are unmatched. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked anyone wishing to donate towards end of life costs can feel free to send checks to Elizabeth Skaling at 46 Winter St. Topsham, Maine 04086. The family will be having a private service.