He was born in Simsbury, CT to Arthur and Millie Carnell. He graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University and received one of the seven fellowships in the country to go to graduate school at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
David led an extraordinary life. He served his country as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in the US Navy aboard the destroyer, USS John Rodgers (DD 574) in the Pacific during World War II. He was proud of his service and never missed the annual reunion of the crew. He was probably the youngest Combat Information Center Watch Officer aboard a destroyer during battle operations. He was a participant of the Honor Flight to the World War II memorial in Washington, DC in October of 2010.
He was employed as a chemical engineer with the Dupont Company for forty years.
He retired to Pages Creek in Wilmington, NC where he became an active volunteer with the Cape Fear Museum and the New Hanover Co. Library. He was instrumental in bringing the Simmons sea skiff to the Cape Fear Museum and was honored by the Maritime Pavilion being dedicated to him in 1997. He received the North Carolina Governor’s award for outstanding volunteer service in 1997 and the North Carolina Museums Council service award for volunteer efforts in 2008.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eleanor and his daughter, Marcia Dillon. He is survived by his daughters, Carol Pinder of Newark, DE, Lucia Carnell of Clayton, DE, his step children, Joseph Meyer and his wife Nohemy of San Diego, CA, James Meyer and his wife Jean of Dundee, MI, Patricia Meekins and her husband Terry of Salt Lake City, UT and nine grandchildren.
A celebration of David’s life will be held at the New Hanover County Library, 201 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC on Saturday, June 25th from 4 PM to 6 PM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the library, 201 Chestnut St. or the Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St., Wilmington, NC 28401.
Fair winds and following seas, you will be missed!
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18