David’s Obituary
BUGDEN, DAVID HENRY (DAVE), died peacefully on 12 October 2022 at the Veteran’s Wing at Soldier’s Memorial Hospital. Born on 10 September 1934 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Dave was the oldest child of the late Arthur and Mildred (Squires) Bugden.
Dave worked in Labrador for the Hudson’s Bay Company for a year when he was 18, before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1955. He worked in Search and Rescue and then as an Aerotech mechanic, retiring after 23 years in Greenwood, NS.
During his time in RCAF, Dave was stationed in Trenton, ON, where he married his first wife, the late Ilene Merkley and his children, Craig and Linda, were born. In 1965, he was transferred to Greenwood, NS, meeting his second wife, Gail Stronach, in 1973. They married in 1975 and he adopted her daughter, Stacy.
In 1979, Dave and Gail purchased the corner store at Baker’s Corner in Greenwood. They ran Dave’s Grocery & Custom Gunsmithing from 1979 until 1990, when they retired and moved to Moschelle, NS.
Dave was a gunsmith for many years with a great interest in working on and restoring antique guns. He created and for several years, ran, the North Mountain Gun Club, which he later sold, and it is still operating today.
Dave enjoyed many hobbies; in earlier years, he enjoyed bird hunting; he had an abiding interest in history—especially the history of his home province of Newfoundland and the military. He enjoyed canoeing, organizing races on the Annapolis River for several years in the 1980s. He loved sailing and, for many years, had a boat on the LaHave River and, after retirement, had boats that he sailed on the Annapolis River. Dave also had many dogs over the years and will be missed by Angel. In 2020, Dave and Gail relocated to Brickton, NS.
Dave was predeceased by both of his parents, his brother Frank (Florence) Bugden and brother-in-law David Wadland. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gail; his children Craig, Waterville; Linda, Paradise; and Stacy, Paradise; his sister, Jennifer (David) Wadland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the many nurses who cared for Dave during his time at the Veteran’s Wing. Many thanks to the staff of Annapolis Valley Home Care for their support and care of Dave.
At his request there will be no visitation or service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, Middleton. Online guestbook may be signed by visiting www.middletonfuneralhome.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of David Henry Bugden 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia