He was born in Brunswick on March 5, 1920, the son of Charles I. and Flora M. Silva Purinton. He graduated from Brunswick High School in 1938. He was a member of the The National Guard before enlisting in the Navy in 1939. As an enlisted man, he worked his way through the ranks to Chief Motor Machinist Mate. He was commissioned as Ensign in 1944. He retired as Captain in 1975.
After the war David married Ruth E. Davis of Portland at the St. Charles Rectory on Nov. 17, 1945.
During World War II, he served on the submarine HOE (SS258) making seven war patrols entitling him to wear The Submarine Combat Pin with stars. He also took part in missions that were instrumental in holding off Japanese attacks on the Philippines. He was subsequently decorated with four commendations including the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation with Gold Frame.
David commanded the submarine Tirante (SS 420) earning him the Command at Sea Insignia. In Key West, he was Commanding Officer of the Submarine Division 121. He was Executive Officer of the Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, and then returned to Key West as Commanding Officer of the submarine tender Bushnell (AS15). On his initiative, he secured permission to keep the Bushnell in Pilottown, Miss., following the devastation of hurricane Camille to provide fresh water, medical assistance and emergency services. He and his crew volunteered to rebuild the pier for the pilot boats. The event was recorded in the Congressional Record.
His last two tours were Assistant Naval Inspector General, Washington, D.C., and Administrative Officer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Throughout his naval career, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Hawaii. In 1972, he received his B.S. in Business Administration from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
In Brunswick, he was best known as the proprietor of the Brunswick Gun Shop. Aside from gun repair, he was active in antique gun collection, repair and appraisal. Since the gun shop closed in 2003, David was busy writing two books, appraising antique guns, and working on the restoration of one of his three antique autos.
David was Chaplain of the Submarine Veterans of World War II, Squalus Chapter, a founding member and retired Trustee of the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum, a member of the Military Officers Association of America, and an active member of St. Charles Borromeo Church.
He leaves his wife of 59 years, Ruth of Brunswick; sons, Charles Purinton and his wife Janice of Jacksonville, Fla., Steven Purinton of Kittery, and Robert Purinton of Boston, Mass., and his partner Mitchell Hollander of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Purinton and her fiancée Richard Johnson of Hyde Park, N.Y.; two grandsons, David Purinton and his wife Clare of Huntsville, Ala., and Dr. Scott Purinton of Baltimore; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin Purinton and Margaret Purinton; brother, Jerome Purinton; two sisters, Mrs. Ann Orr and Mrs. Stella Thibeault; and numerous nieces and nephews living in Brunswick.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated April 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church McKeen St. Brunswick with the Rev. Stephen Concannon officiating. A committal service will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
St. Charles Borromeo Church
Tedford House Project
132 McKeen St.
Brunswick, Maine 04011
Arrangements are by Stetson's Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick.