SPRINGVALE — David M. Lord, 55, of Windmill Farm in Springvale, died on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 following a brief illness.

David was born in Saco on June 4, 1959, the son of Willis and Barbara Roberts Lord of Lord Rock Farm in North Waterboro.

As a youngster, he helped out on the farm and attended school in Alfred and day programs at Camp Waban. David enjoyed riding on the farm tractors with his father, calling in the cows at milking time and, after a hard day’s work, swimming at Little Ossipee Lake. He loved practical jokes and was a prankster, often giving himself away with his devilish chuckle and excitement to see how his victim would respond.

In 1987, David moved to Elm Street in Sanford to live in a group setting hosted by Waban Project’s Inc. Dave’s outgoing personality endeared him to many. His new living arrangements allowed him to work at LifeWorks and explore the community; where he enjoyed meeting new people and sharing his opinions. David loved the American flag and was always certain to shake a serviceman or servicewoman’s hand every time he saw them. He had his own special table at the Sanford Public Library, where he took great pleasure in reviewing the library’s many magazines. He was also a frequent visitor at the Sanford Fire Department across from his home. His favorite pastime was putting puzzles together. Dave taught himself to print by copying numbers and letters from the calendar.

David enjoyed attending social events and dances hosted by Waban and the local community. Although his speech was difficult to understand, David had a voice for singing. He participated in a local church choir and took great pleasure in belting out various songs, often to the chagrin of his work or house mates. Amazing Grace was his favorite hymn. He had a special appreciation for marching band music and parades.

David always looked forward to attending the Maine Special Olympics, where he was an active participant until 2011. He won many medals and ribbons for his prowess with the shot put, softball and Frisbee toss, and 50- and 100-yard dash. For a guy born with a hole in his heart, he sure could run!

Although Dave could be gruff and opinionated at times, he had a soft spot for children; especially babies and people in need of a comforting hand or word. When his housemates and caretakers at Windmill or Elm Street were down, he would often give them a pat on the back or say a comforting word to let them know they were OK and were not alone. Those who visited him in his final days shared many stories of his compassion for others and his fun-loving nature.

David was preceded in death by: his parents; and brother-in-law, Frederick Fay.

David is survived by his sisters, Judith Fay of Alfred and Avon Park, Florida, Patricia Joyce of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Janice Meyer and her husband Philip of Lexington, Kentucky; his niece, Christine Ohman of Lyman; his nephew, Scott and Jennifer Ohman and KC Ohman of North Waterboro; and great-nieces and -nephews, Ashlee, Bailey, Richard Todd and Jonathan Ohman.

He is also survived by: his aunts and uncles, George and Gladys Roberts of Alfred, Paul and Ruby Roberts of Sanford and Marjorie Blair of Exeter, New Hampshire; along with many cousins.

David’s family would like to extend their sincere thanks and deepest appreciation to Sharon King, David’s longtime caretaker, friend and advocate. David and Sharon shared a special bond that was evident even in his final hours.

The family also wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the many administrators and staff, who enriched David’s life at Elm Street and LifeWorks, Clair Thompson and the entire staff at Windmill Farms for their excellent care and compassion these last few years, the doctors and nurses at Southern Maine Health Care and Hospice of Southern Maine. Your dedication to enriching the lives of those with special needs is so very much appreciated and deeply admired.

A graveside service will be held in May 2015 at the Elder Grey Cemetery in North Waterboro with Pastor Brian Blair officiating. All are welcome to attend to celebrate David’s life and share their memories and stories. To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.autumngreenfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made to Waban Projects, Inc., 5 Dunaway Drive, Sanford, ME 04073. The Autumn Green Funeral Home, 47 Oak St. in Alfred, is respectfully handling arrangements.