He served in the U.S. Navy during WW1 aboard the USS Haniabal. Born in Hallowell, Maine, he lived his adult life in Dover, N.H. Married to Sadie Hoitt, and had seven children, Richard B. Purington Jr, Murial, Robert George, Shirley May, Pricilla, Everett Winfield, and Susan Ellen. He was the son of George Franklin and Ada A. Purington, nee Morang. He was brother to Lilla A, Olive, Winona, and Robert George Purington. He was half brother to Gilbert, Alden, and Affa Campbell. He was a Jack of ALL trades, however, he loved his farm the most! Dick was a direct desendent of George Puddington, who sailed from Tiverton, England on the ship, the "Pied Cow". The ship landed in what is now known as Cow Cove in South Berwick, Maine. I am his grandson, Kirk Everett Purington Sr, as my father was Everett Winfield Purington. I was lucky enough to have Richard (Grampa) a part of my life for 14 plus years. He was a true Maine Yankee, with a bright sense of humor, and quick with a smile! He taught me so many things about life, including hard work, love of family and to be humble with your personal relationship with God. All good things come in time with hard work and love. He was very musical, and was self taught on the piano, guitar, banjo and fiddle, and had a fine tenor voice, which you would hear while he worked around the farm. He love to fish and hunt and praised God for his good fortune after every whitetail downed.
He was a Farmer by trade, though after he was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1919, he went to work for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a Rigger, all the while working the farm and raising his family. He praised God everyday and told me often that he was alright with his relationship with the Lord. He would say that "they understood each other".