Tocknell, David Lee

29 Apr Tocknell, David Lee

Volunteered with Arts and Crafts Department

David Lee Tocknell of Wheaton, MD died at home on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. He was 64.

He is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 42 years, Janet K. Tocknell, his children James (Megan), Shauna, Lori, and Katie (Brendon Pinkham), his grandchildren Charles Aston Tocknell II and Cordelia Ito Pinkham. He was anxiously awaiting the birth of his newest grandchild in December.

David was born in Washington, DC on March 5, 1952 to Lorina (Zenia) Walsh Tocknell and the late Charles Aston Tocknell. He was the third of 4 boys, Wayne (Judy), the late Mark, and Philip (Debbie). He grew up in Wheaton and graduated from Wheaton High School in 1970. That December he went to work for the phone company in DC and worked for them for 40 years. He installed and repaired phones in Anacostia, embassies, businesses, the National Zoo, government buildings, and cemeteries. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 21 and served in many callings throughout his years, his favorite being Scoutmaster.

He was a very jolly Santa with his very own beard and enjoyed playing the part for countless children and families for 28 years. David deeply loved his family, talking to people, babies, animals of all kinds, canoeing, scouting, road trips, John Wayne westerns, Lonesome Dove, going to yard sales, and homemade pies. He never met a stranger. He could sell snow in the middle of a blizzard. He believed that if you had more than half a tank of gas you weren’t lost, you were on an adventure.