Obituary of David I. Chambers

David Irvine Chambers was born May 12, 1923 in Salinas, CA and died April 11, 2019 in Whiting, NJ. Dave's parents were David and Jessie Chambers, who raised him in Salinas and Oakland, CA until he was a teenager before moving to Ridgewood, NJ. Dave was the oldest of three children including middle sister Marion and youngest brother Irv. The journey from CA to NJ was a memorable voyage by ship and he fondly remembered and often talked about sailing through the Panama Canal. Dave graduated from Ridgewood High School and enlisted in the US Navy where he served in the South Pacific as a tail gunner on a carrier-based bomber near the end of World War II. After the war, Dave attended Wake Forest University where he took classes in business. As a young man he enjoyed working on cars and woodworking. He always had a well-equipped shop and made walnut desks and cabinets for his family. Dave married Marion Elizabeth Fortune in October 1948 and they honeymooned on a cross-country road trip to CA. Upon their return they settled in Summit, NJ, first at the Beech Spring Apartments and then building their own home on Blackburn Road. Starting in sales at Everfast Fabrics in New York City, Dave soon moved to the truck automotive industry. He eventually started his own business, Chambers Power Equipment in Newark, NJ with a second location in the Boston area. Dave had a lifelong interest in pleasure boating that led him to build a small skiff as a young man, open the Mid-Atlantic region distributorship for Correct Craft boats in the 1950s, distribute for Regal Boats, and both build and import pleasure trawlers. An avid boater himself, Dave went on family cruises in NY and Canada, led cruises along the East Coast for Regal Boats, and cruised up and down the intracoastal waterway. After retiring from the truck automotive business, Dave continued in the boat business into his 80s. Dave served on the Board of Directors of Correct Craft, Inc for more than 25 years. Dave and Marion raised sons Dave and Don in Summit. A third son Jeff was killed in a car accident when he was 2 years old. Dave and Marion were married for 55 years before she passed away in 2004. Shortly after Marion's passing, Dave moved to a home in Toms River for several years and then to The Pines in Whiting. For many years Dave was active at Maplewood Gospel Chapel and then at Bethany Chapel after moving to Toms River. He was also actively involved and served on the Board of Directors for the Market Street Mission, a Christian men's rescue mission, for more than 25 years. He was also active with Executive Ministries and the Christian Business Men's Committee for a number of years. Dave is survived by his sons Dave (and wife Marian) and Don (and wife Wendy), six grandchildren (David Chambers, Katie Burberry, Matt Chambers, Joshua Chambers, Tyler Chambers, and Katie Hayes), and three great-grandchildren (Oliver Burberry and Lincoln and Lucy Chambers). Dave was preceded in death by his wife Marion, sister Marion Lacey and brother Irv, son Jeff, and granddaughter Ashley. There will be a memorial service at The Pines at Whiting on Saturday, May 4th at 11am. The Pines is located at 509 Route 530, Whiting, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts in memory of Dave to The Market Street Mission, 9 Market Street, Morristown, NJ 07960 (www.marketstreet.org)