BOLTON - David Jeffrey Beebe, 71, of Bolton, passed away Thursday, February 9, 2017, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, following complications of liver cancer

David was born in Toledo, OH, in 1945, the third of four sons to Erdine and Harold Beebe. The family moved to Glassboro, New Jersey, and David graduated from Glassboro High School. He was proud to be the first of his family to attend college, self-funding his studies to complete a degree in horticulture at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Following this, he embarked on a career in food science, working for several major consumer food companies before finding a place at Ken's Foods in Marlborough, MA, where he worked for 26 years. He retired in 2015 as Vice President, Technical Services, a position in which he oversaw the development and production of some of the country's most recognizable and best-selling salad dressings and sauces. Post-retirement, David was a consultant to several local food companies.

David married Martha Tiller in Swarthmore, PA in 1971. The young couple lived in several cities, including Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD, and Westerville, OH, before settling in Bolton, MA, where they made a home together for 28 years. Martha and David loved to travel, taking vacations to the USSR in 1986 and then to Israel, as well as a family driving vacation to England where David never quite got the hang of driving on the other side of the road. David is survived by his wife, his daughter Christianna Moore Beebe, son-in-law Chad Smith, and grandson Carter Christian Smith, of Newburyport, MA; and his son Jeffrey Landon Beebe, of Brooklyn, NY. David was predeceased by his firstborn son, Christian Saunders Beebe, who passed away in 1972.

David was an avid reader, especially of history and science, an animal lover and a passionate golfer. He was especially proud of his 161-yard hole-in-one made on July 11, 2008 at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, MA. David loved his time spent on the golf course, especially in the company of his long-time Ken's Foods golf league companions. He is remembered by his colleagues for his dedicated work ethic, sense of humor and deep laugh, and for his fair and generous disposition. Martha remembers David as her best friend, a good man who did many kindnesses for others. His son remembers his father as a teller of bedtime stories, especially the ones he made up himself and for the gift of golf which he will cherish for the rest of his life. His daughter remembers her father as the one who taught her the true meaning of generosity and honesty.

David's family is grateful for the love and support they have received in his memory. They encourage those who would like to remember David to make a donation to an animal-related charity of their choice, or to the American Liver Foundation.