David Lee Welker, 79, of Yarmouth, formerly of Waldoboro, died Aug. 31 in Portland.
He was born on June 6, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Paul Lee Alexander Welker and Edith Fern Ricketts. He lived most of his childhood in Jackson, Tenn. He married Marian Risk in 1956, and they resided in the Washington, D.C. area with their children.
He attended Kentucky State College and received his Bachelors of Arts from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. In 1954, David joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he played bass clarinet, clarinet, and saxophone in “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band for 32 years.
David retired in 1987 with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant, having played under eight presidential administrations, beginning with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. After retirement, David received two Bachelors of Science degrees, one from the University of Maryland, in Political Science, and the second from the University of Maine, in Public Administration. In his retirement, David and Marian resided in Waldoboro, where David taught music, enjoyed his gardening, and served as Director of Round Top Center of the Arts in Damariscotta.
David is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marian; brother, James; children, David Samuel, Matthew (Max), Eric, Hope Ellen, and Beth; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to “Doctors Without Borders,” www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of David’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.
