David Edwin9 Junkins, (Walter Hilton8, David Edwin7, David6, David5, James4, Joseph3, Alexander2, Robert1)
David Edwin Junkins, 72, died June 8, 1994 in Portsmouth, NH. Born in Portsmouth, June 28, 1922, he graduated from Ponce de Leon High School in Coral Gables, FL, and was a graduate of the Apprentice Program at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He served in the United States Army during World War II and prior to his retirement, was employed as a blacksmith at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He was a volunteer at Betty's Dream/Rainbow Apartments and was a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association.
Survivors include his wife, Grace L. (Burke), children David M. and Harry H. and a sister Ruth Alice (Junkins) Hodgin.
Remembering a brother fondly…
Being two years younger, I had much to learn from a brother whose inquisitive mind and active imagination often landed him in trouble. His grandfather had earned Portsmouth High School's highest award, "The Haven Medal" for four years of excellence and David was on his way to follow in his footsteps. However, shooting spit balls on the ceiling with a ruler in first grade was not pleasing to his teacher. When mother asked why he did it, the answer was "to see how long it would take them to dry so they would drop down." Today children with ability are handled with more care…not skipped a grade and then held back a grade as he was. He accomplished his school years without studying at home. It was, therefore, with much surprise to the family when he elected to take additional courses during his Blacksmith Apprentice Program. Over his working years he rose to head of the annealing room and I know he was extremely well thought of among his fellow workers, not only for his ability, but for his sense of humor and kindness.
While our children were young, we shared holidays. But, as they married and moved, our directions changed and we met less frequently. But, there was the phone…if we could ever catch each other.
It was his humor and kindness that endeared him to others as he aided the disabled young adults at Rainbow Apartments. He was their "Mr. Fix it." He and his wife ran a weekly bingo game whose proceeds went to the Tenant Association of the Rainbow Apartments. The young people, in their turn, expressed their appreciation by dedicating their new recreation room to David and his wife, Grace. A plaque now hangs there in their honor.
In a happy last gathering of cousins, sister, brother-in-law and wife at Edgewood, he astounded all of us by reciting "the owl and the pussy cat." It surely was a case of the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.
Ruth Alice
