David A. Akerhielm died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at Woodbury Wellness Center in Hampstead. He was 84.
He was born on June 30, 1930 in Cranford, NJ to the late George Herman Akerhielm and Mildred Prokopec Akerhielm.
David is survived by his wife, Betsy C. Akerhielm; his daughters, Kathryn Gardner Akerhielm and Laura Akerhielm Druebbisch; and his sons, David Robert Akerhielm and James William Akerhielm. He was a proud and loving Poppy to Julia and Caroline Schultz, Bethany and Valerie Akerhielm, Nicole, Carl and Ellen Druebbisch and Nathan and Emma Akerhielm. David is also survived by his brother, George John Akerhielm.
David, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, graduated from Bucknell University where he met his loving wife, Betsy Conklin. He earned his degree in mechanical engineering. Subsequently, David worked for 10 years with DuPont in Seaford, Delaware. David’s career also took him and his family to Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Florida and New Jersey.
Throughout his career, David also enjoyed travelling abroad. David and Betsy retired to the beach in Wilmington in 1996. David was known for a quick wit and loved the playfulness of the English language; to that end, he was a diligent and talented solver of the New York Times crossword puzzles. He was a well-read man with a particular interest in WWII military history.
A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Oleander Memorial Gardens.
Contributions may be made to the Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, 2 West Fayetteville St., Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 or a social service agency of your choice.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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