David William O’Brien, the beloved son of William J. O’Brien and Anna M. O’Brien, was born on July 3rd, 1946, in Cambridge. He lived in Arlington, Massachusetts, until he was five years old and then moved to Norwell, MA. David suffered brain injury in a double-car crash when he was eighteen. Despite the injury, he became an excellent draftsman and joined the Navy. He served on the light aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Independence for several years as a draftsman and records keeper.
David’s wife, Shelby Jean Pullum/O’Brien, and he moved to Dexter, Missouri, and there they raised their daughter Anna Bernice Loughary. David eventually moved to Reading, Massachusetts, where he served as a Post Office Custodian for twenty years. He always remained in contact with Shelby and Anna, and they were always on his mind. David was an uncle to: Erik, Amy, Molly, Emily and Dan, and a great uncle to: Jack, Christopher, Zachary, Kyle, Maya, Tarah, Leah, Jeremy, Daniel, and Aiden.
David loved studying mushrooms, and he could give excellent descriptions of over fifty species. He often collected and ate wild mushrooms. His former roommate Steve, was a big mushroom collector too. David enjoyed watching the History Channel, and he was an avid Chess player for much of his life. David was a hardworking, intelligent individual, despite his brain injury. He lived at Care One at Weymouth most recently, and he passed away on January 6th, 2025, at South Shore Hospital.
Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Homes, 551 Washington St. Rte. 53, Hanover, on Tuesday, January 14th from 10-12pm, with a funeral home service starting at 12pm. Burial to follow at Stetson Meadow Cemetery, Norwell.
