Springfield Reporter - November 7, 1962

David Allan Gurney

Springfield.  Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Thursday afternoon at 2 O'clock at the Davis Memorial Chapel for Pfc David A. Gurney, 20, popular Springfield paratrooper, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident near Fort Bragg, N.C. last Wednesday night.

The Rev. Charles P. Calcagni, pastor of the Congregational Church will officiate.  Burial will be in the Plain Cemetery in Weathersfiled.

It was not until Sunday night that the young serviceman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Gurney of Maple Street, North Springfield, learned of their son's death.  They left here by car with their house trailer on October 22 to spend the winter in Arizona.  Efforts by their family to reach them enroute proved futile.  A message was left with friends at their destination, Mesa, Ariz. for them to call home and they did so Sunday.   Mr. and Mrs. Gurney flew to New York where they were joined by their youngest son, John Gurney, U.S. Air Foce, who flew in from Lakland Air Force Base in Texas.  The three were met by Donald Gurney, an older brother and driven home.

Master Sergent Jack Warren of Fort Bragg, N.C. was official escourt for the body which arrived by train at Brattleboro early Monday and was brought by auto hearse to the Davis Chapel.

The fatal crash occurred on Interstate 95 near Dunn, N.C. when the automobile driven by the Springfield serviceman went out of control and struck a cement bridge.  He died of a skull fracture enroute to Womack Army Hospital at Fort Bragg.   Another serviceman who was riding with him received slight injuries.

David A. Gurney, described by John Graham, a long time friend and former classmate as "a quiet, kind, courageous person, very intelligent, full of fun and a hard worker."

He was born in Springfield, April 3, 1942, attended grade school in North Springfield and graduated from college course at Springfield High School in 1960.  He worked with his brothers of the Gurney Construction company before he enlisted in the Army in the Spring of 1961.  He was attached to Headquarters Company of the First Airborne Battle Group 503rd Infantry of the 782nd Airborne division at Fort Bragg.  He was last home over the July 4th holiday.

Besides his parents he leaves seven sisters and three borthers.  Mrs. Babara Newport of Springfield, Mrs. Priscilla Brown of North Springfield, Mrs. Joy Harvey and Mrs. Carolyn Staubach of Syracues, N.Y., Mrs. Nancy Munroe of Cumberland Center, Me., Miss Laura Gurney of Highgate Center and Mrs. Harriet Abel of New York City.  Donald and Gordon Gurney of North Springfield and John J. Gurney of the US Air Force Lackland Air Base, Texas.