Richard Francis Dam, 94, of Merrimac, Mass., went into the arms of his Lord, July 23, 2022, at Bridgton Hospital in Maine.

Richard was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on January 31, 1928. He was the middle of five sons of Charles and Anna Dam. He often recounted that he and his brothers would make up their own baseball or basketball team. Richard enjoyed being active swimming, bike riding, running, canoeing, gardening, and raking everything!

After completing eighth grade, he went back to earn his GED and then graduated from Macintosh Business College. He served in the U.S. Navy from January, 1946 until his honorable discharge in November, 1947.

He retired from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and again from Northern Essex Community College. He was a purchasing clerk in shipping and receiving.

Richard met the love of his life at Merrimac Baptist Church, and they were married Sept. 28, 1951. Together, they raised their family to love and serve God. They were active on mission trips, encouraging missionaries, serving in the church, and hosting friends and family at their cottages in Bridgton, Maine.

Richard will be remembered for his love of church suppers, yard sales, family gatherings, quirky jokes, gleaning of trash to recycle... but more than anything, he will be

remembered by his desire to share his faith in his Lord Jesus. Richard published several small books of poetry that he wrote and sketched that illustrated his love for animals, for diving, for God and His word and journaling his life adventures.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Shirley Dam.

He is survived by his daughter, Chrystal Turner and her spouse William Turner of York, his son, Daniel Dam of Merrimac, Mass., and his daughter, Robin Bush and her spouse Donald Bush of Elizabethtown, Pa.; his five grandchildren, William Turner of Merrimac, Mass., Rebecca Turner of York, Sarah Turner Brownell of York, Jonathan Bush of Lan- caster, Pa., and Joshua Bush of Elizabethtown, Pa.; seven loving great-grandchildren, Tatum Stacy, Analee Turner, Brent Brownell, Eli Thibodeau, Malachi Bush, Jude Bush and Luca Bear Brownell.

Visiting time will be at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 27 Church Street, Merrimac, Mass., on Friday, July 29, 2022, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. immediately followed by the Celebration of Life Service at 11 a.m. at the Church, then burial at Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill, where he will be laid to eternal rest next to his beloved wife, Shirley.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Declare God’s Wonders, 246 Hio Ridge Road, Bridgton, ME. 04009.

Arrangements are by Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 2 Hillside Avenue, Amesbury, MA 01913.