NORTH HAMPTON — David F. Colt, 86, of North Hampton died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at Exeter Hospital after a sudden illness.

He was born Oct. 2, 1924, in Exeter, the son of the late David F. and Hannah (Barrington) Colt.

He attended Hampton schools and graduated with the Class of 1942, the last class to attend the old Hampton Academy. During World War II he served in the Army for three years. Following the war he attended Tilton School and the University of New Hampshire, where he later taught an evening course for four years.

He shared 61 years of marriage with his wife, Marjorie (Cuss) Colt of North Hampton.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two children, John Colt of Lapeer, Mich., and Laurie Ball and her husband William of Exeter; five grandchildren, William Ball Jr., Patricia Ball, Kara, Kelsey and Kylie Colt; and his sister, Barbara Colt of San Francisco, Calif.

He was predeceased by his sister, Jeanne Batchelder.

WE REMEMBER: As a youth he worked in a family business, the Colt News Store, and later at the Colt Photo Service. He worked with Leary and Colt Real Estate and Insurance and 12 years for the American Appraisal Company before opening his own appraisal business in 1976.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hampton and served in many church offices and committees as well as in state convention. He was a life member of the Appraisal Institute and past president of the New Hampshire chapter and member of Hampton's American Legion Post 35. From 1959 to 1962, Mr. Colt served as a member of the Hampton Board of Selectmen and was appointed to the Seacoast Water Commission by Gov. Wesley Powell.

Into his eighties, Mr. Colt enjoyed biking, hiking, skiing, square dancing and round dancing. He and his wife visited many countries around the world, but they especially enjoyed traveling in northern New England.

SERVICES: Services will be held Monday, Feb. 21, at 12:30 p.m. in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited and may call at the funeral home Monday from 11 a.m. until the hour of the service. The family requests that flowers please be omitted and suggests donations to the First Baptist Church, 36 Winnacunnet Road, Hampton, NH 03842.

[The following is from the First Baptist Church website:)

First Baptist Church has lost a long-time friend and servant Dave Colt. We will dearly miss him. The overflowing crowd at the Funeral was not a surprise, for Dave was a kind and friendly soul. I attended some regional ABC meetings with Dave and everyone seemed to know him. He introduced me to many of his friends. He loved people and it was interesting to watch him work his way around a crowd. I’m thankful that he gave a clear testimony of faith in Christ. He confessed to being a sinner saved by grace.

I cannot convey what his life has meant to this church, but I want to share an excerpt from the opening prayer offered at his funeral service yesterday.

I want to thank you Father for the genuine testimony of Dave’s life.
Thank you for the wonder of a child in his eyes,
the joy of God in his smile,
the honest and straightforward advice from his mouth,
the labor of love from his hands,
and the peace of God which was clearly evident even in his final hours.