David F. Petherbridge

Passed on September 23rd after a brief illness. Born in Passaic, New Jersey in 1934. Predeceased by his parents, William and Mary (Emery); brother, William; daughter-in-law, Carol; great-granddaughter, Cecilia Phillips; and after 65 years of marriage by his beloved wife, C. Shirley (Palmer). He is survived by his sons, Philip (Elizabeth), Ronald, and his daughter, L. Diane Petherbridge; eight grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. 

David graduated from Hallowell (Maine) High School in 1952 and the University of Maine in 1956 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He went to work for Eastman Kodak in the Engineering Division at Kodak Park. He was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserves, and later acquired the rank of Captain. He and Shirley resided in Webster, NY for 60 years.

In 1965, he earned a MS Degree in Chemical Engineering at the Advanced Engineering Study Program at MIT. On returning to the Engineering Division at Kodak, he held numerous assignments in Engineering, in Maintenance, Production, and Construction. In 1981, he was appointed Director of Engineering at Kodak Park. David took an early retirement in 1991. 

On retirement, he and Shirley joined the New Horizons Band program and for many years enjoyed making music and traveling with the band to places like Palm Desert and Hawaii.

They spent summers at the family cottage in Manchester, Maine on Cobbosseeconte Lake and played with the Hallowell Community Band. During the summer, they attended Cox Memorial United Methodist Church where they were married in 1955. 

In Rochester, they were members of Asbury First UMC which they joined in 1959. David and Shirley were youth counselors. David held many administrative positions at Asbury, including chair of Pastor/Parish Relations. 

A Service will be held at Asbury First UMC, 1050 East Ave., Rochester 14607 on Thursday, September 28th at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Asbury First UMC or Cox Memorial UMC, 29 Middle St., Hallowell, ME 04347.

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