David Henderson Dorsett

David Henderson Dorsett, age 73, of Southport, NC, died suddenly Saturday, September 24, 2016 from complications of diabetes. His final days were spent at home hosting a reunion for his Marine Corps Battery from Viet Nam. David was born in Greensboro, NC on December 28, 1942, the son of the late James Robert Dorsett and Martha Burnside Dorsett. He is survived by siblings James Robert Dorsett, Jr. (June) of High Point, NC, Lynn Dorsett Sutphen of Menifee, CA and Anne Dorsett Niles (Tim) of Cary, NC, his wife of 35 years, Ellen Stout Dorsett, his step-son, William M. Sherrod and wife Melissa, and grandchildren Aubrey, Andrew, Jacob and Anna Sherrod of Southport.

David was in the class of 1961 at W. H. Page High School, Greensboro, NC. He enlisted in the USMC in 1961 and served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. David was in the first detachment that landed in Viet Nam on March 7, 1965 and remained there for a year. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with the Combat V for actions during this period.

After military service David returned to Greensboro where he earned a degree in Theoretical Mathematics from Guilford College. While attending Guilford he worked in research and development at Burlington Industries and as a senior systems analyst for the US Postal Service at the Greensboro Bulk Mail Center (BMC). He directed the acceptance of the nation's 21 BMC's new automated mail and computerized zip code systems. In 1981, David moved to Southport and began work at Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant. He remained there until he retired in 2005.

David was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Southport, where he served as Youth and Adult Sunday-School Teacher, Sunday-School Superintendent, Lay Leader, Scout Liaison, Scout Leader, Lay Speaker and District Lay Leader. He spent 35 years as a counselor on the Youth High Adventure 50 mile Appalachian Trail Hike where he amazed all with his recitation of “The Mountain Whippoorwill”. He was active in Emmaus and Kairos ministries. David volunteered at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site during Heritage Days and also at Moore’s Creek National Battlefield. During his younger days he was an avid paddler and canoed many of NC’s rivers. He tended the small scuppernong grape vineyard on his farm and enjoyed travel. His passion was genealogy and he had extensive files on Ancestry.com. He wrote a book on the Dorsett family and assisted genealogy researchers across the nation.

There will be a celebration of David’s life at Trinity United Methodist Church, Southport, NC on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 2:00pm. The family will greet attendees after the service. Interment will be in the Dorsett family cemetery at Love’s Creek Baptist Church in Siler City at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances to be made to Matthew’s Ministry (www.matthewsministry.com) or a favorite charity.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport.