Obituary of Gene Tunney Duston

GENE TUNNEY DUSTON, 84, husband of June C. (Green) Duston of Newcastle, Maine, died peacefully May 6, 2012 surrounded by his family at Cove's Edge in Damariscotta. He was born September 23, 1927 in Hampstead, NH, son of Levi E. and Myrtis C. (French) Duston. Gene graduated from Hampstead High School in 1945 and was immediately drafted into the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Hampstead Fire Department for 55 years and served on the Executive Committee, Board of Engineers and as Chief from 1957-1960. Gene served as Trustee for ten years for the Hampstead Congregational Church and was a member of the Steeple Committee. He loved working with youth in Hampstead and worked both with the Cub Scouts and Little League. Gene was also active in the community as a member of the School Building Committee for five years and was very proud of his service as Chairman of the Site Committee for the new middle school which resulted in the purchase of the 40 acres where the Hampstead Middle School was constructed. He served as Selectman from 1981-1983. He enjoyed skiing, gardening, watching the Red Sox, but most of all, he enjoyed his years with family and friends on the Bearcamp River in West Ossipee, New Hampshire. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, June C. Duston; his daughter Linda Adams and her husband Brian of Winthrop, Maine; his son John Duston and Ellen Newkirk of Anchorage and Eagle River, Alaska; four grandchildren, Melissa Twist, Amanda Friesen, Jessica Duston and Shelly Duston; and two great grandchildren, Kayla Duston and Jasun Duston. He is also survived by his sisters, Florence Butters, Dorothy Sundman and Thelma Petell as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Harold, Kenneth, Leslie and Donald Duston and his sisters Ruth Coupal and Virginia Brickett. At Gene and June's request, there will not be a memorial service at this time. Those who wish to remember Gene in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Hampstead Fireman's Association - Duston Fund, 17 Little's Lane, Hampstead, NH 03841. The Duston Fund was established by Levi Duston for the benefit of Hampstead's children to enjoy a Christmas parade each December.