In memory of thoughtful men.

• Author: Oleson, Ellie
• Position: News - Obituary

Byline: Ellie Oleson

David M. Huntington of Oxford and his son, Russell D. Huntington of Webster, will long be remembered as kind and thoughtful men who cared deeply about children.

Shirley A. Huntington, David Huntington's wife of 51 years, made a generous donation to the Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund in memory of her husband and son.

"My husband liked to spend money,'' she said. "He can't do it anymore, so I'm doing it for him.''

She is not a wealthy woman, she said, explaining that she donated $250 for each of her four children and $100 for each of her six grandchildren.

"My husband and son loved children,'' Mrs. Huntington said. "Their family meant the world to them. They would have wanted this.''

The elder Mr. Huntington was 71 when he died at home on Christmas Day 2007 after a long illness. He was a union pipefitter who served as business agent for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 4 in Worcester and business manager for the former Pipefitters Local 408. He was vice president of the Worcester-Fitchburg Building Trades Council.

"Dave was a good man,'' Mrs. Huntington said. "There were guys in the union who didn't work enough to be able to pay their dues, and he came up with the money.''

He also volunteered for many community activities, including working at a food bank to help out-of-work union members, Dads Against Diabetes and the local handicapped ramp program.

Russell Huntington was 53 when he died on March 1, 2010, following surgery. He was a 1975 graduate of Oxford High School and a union member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 4 for more than 30 years.

Like his father, he was a volunteer, serving as a Boy Scout leader and Little League coach in Webster when his children were young.

When he passed away, he left his wife of 31 years, Donna (Brown) Huntington, and two sons, Justin and Ian.

Oddly, both men were 13 years old when they met the girls who would become their brides.

"I guess we're just lucky,'' said the elder Mrs. Huntington.

She met David at a Valentine's Day dance in Worcester, where they both lived.

"He was at the dance to meet a friend and saw me across the room, and that was it for both of us,'' she said.

Unlike many marriages today, the couple survived good times and bad, including the death of their infant daughter, Diane M. Huntington. They have two daughters, Lisa Huntington-Ware of Oakham and Julie Kudron of Oxford, and six grandhildren.

"My husband and my son doted on their children, and my husband adored...