David W. Lenth

David Wells Lenth, 98, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025. Born on July 26, 1927 in Providence, RI, he was raised in Cranston and Foster, RI, the loving son of George and Grace Lenth. He graduated from Cranston High School in June, 1945 and enrolled in the V-12 College Training Program for the Navy at St. Lawrence University. He served in the Navy Reserve until he was honorably discharged in July, 1954.

David graduated from Rhode Island State College (now URI), in 1949 with a degree in agricultural chemistry. After college, he worked on a survey of the milk supply in the greater Providence area. The survey was instrumental in uncovering quality concerns and improved the health and safety in the dairy industry. After further education in radiological health, David pursued a career in chemistry and health and safety. He worked first for Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station in Rowe, MA, and later at Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in East Haddam, CT.

On June 17, 1950, he married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Doliber (Betty). They moved from Foster to Rowe, MA, then Deep River, CT as they raised their two children, Jacquelyn (now of Lincoln, MA) and David Ray Lenth (deceased). They had 72 wonderful years together, and loved traveling in their motorhome to the ocean in the Florida Keys and coastal Maine. When Betty passed in 2022, David moved to a very supportive community at Concord Park in Concord MA.

David was a skilled woodworker and gardener, first renovating an antique farmhouse and later, in retirement, moving back to Rowe to build a post-and-beam sugarhouse-style home and barn. He was always there with a ready hand to help with any house renovation project. He loved woodcraft. Creating projects for his grandchildren was a passion without bounds: a puppet theater, treehouse, doll houses, bird houses, and bird feeders by the dozen, all crafted lovingly. He was a patient gardener. Each layering or cutting of a rhododendron, azalea, or blueberry was carefully cultivated in a meadow nursery until replanted. Many are now towering 15’ tall.

He is survived by his daughter, Jacquelyn Lenth and her husband, Andrew Falender of Lincoln, MA; a grandson, Jason Falender and his wife Minxian; great grandson Leon of Sudbury, MA; granddaughter Rebecca Falender and her husband Aditya Dave; great granddaughter Anna Dave of Portland, OR; and by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Elaine Doliber of Wakefield, RI.

A private service and burial will be held for family and close friends. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David’s memory to:
Alzheimer’s Association
P.O. Box 96011
Washington, D.C. 20090-6011
www.alz.org

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com