David J. Rumpf, 90

David Rumpf

David Rumpf

PORTLAND — David Joseph Rumpf, 90, of Portland, passed away Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Feb. 20, 1924 in Auburn, N.Y. to John and Iretta Rumpf. At the age of seven, he was confined to his bed for three months with rheumatic fever, which left him with a heart murmur and prevented him from entering school sports or joining the military. He enjoyed swimming and canoeing and despite being warned by the military doctors that he wouldn’t live beyond 30, was proud that he twice swam the width of Owasco Lake in Auburn, N.Y.
During World War II he worked as an apprentice machinist at the Columbian Rope Company building bomb-bay doors for the Curtiss Helldiver and parts for the C-46 aircraft. After the war, he began his 42-year career with National Cash Register Company, working his way up from apprentice to manager of field engineering. He worked in Auburn, Syracuse and Watertown N.Y. before moving to the Portland office in 1962, from where he retired.
David met the love of his life, Margaret Katherine Murphy on Oct. 28, 1939 on a bus returning home from a high school football game. They married Sept. 1, 1945 and were blessed with 10 children. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and would share stories about them with everyone he met. They loved family outings and thought nothing of piling all the kids, and usually a dog, in the station wagon to visit family, the beach, enjoy a picnic or visit historical sites. Their love of travel continued into retirement with trips cross-country in their RV and spending winters in LaBelle, Fla. They also traveled to the British Isles and cruised from Ala. down through the Panama Canal. David loved to work with his hands and build things. He was a meticulous woodworker and built many chests, desks, dressers, bookshelves, a table, dollhouse and more. He also built two homes, a brick house in Auburn N.Y. and their retirement home on Range Pond in Poland Spring.
He was very active volunteering his time in the church, teaching CCD at Holy Cross parish when the kids were young and as a director and active member of the South Portland Quarterback Club, helping to build the original concession stand at Martin Field in the mid 1960s. After retirement, he enjoyed volunteering his time at St. Gregory’s in Gray, where he helped organize the Men’s Club breakfasts and suppers.
David is predeceased by his parents; siblings Robert and Iretta; and infant son, William.
He is survived by Margaret, his loving wife of 69 years; children, David P. of Florida, Barbara Stevens of Florida, Richard of Scarborough, Maggie Mishoe of Portland, James of Buxton, Jane Kostiw of Chelsea, Nancy Sanborn of Denmark, John of Kennebunk and Thomas of China; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will take place on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland with a visiting hour from 1 to 2 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: HYPERLINK "https://givalike.org/dm/David%20Joseph%20Rumpf/R/1926206/Nonprofit-Directory/Nonprofit/20222241/VNA-Home-Health-and-Hospice-Services?eqg=1"VNA Home Health Hospice, 144 State Street, Portland, ME 04101.