David Jeffrey Britton

David Jeffrey of Orange Park, FL, passed peacefully on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, surrounded by his loving wife and girls.

Born April 30, 1941, to Ruth and Arthur Britten in New Jersey, Dave grew up in the tri-state area. Summers on his grandparents’ Vermont farm brought fond memories, including the time the Model-T Ford caught on fire while he was driving it!

Dave married Janet Norton-Taylor on January 25, 1964. The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Dave retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of Chief Petty Officer, after 23 years of service. He traveled all over the world with the Navy, and Dave and Janet were even sent to Newfoundland, Canada, and lived there in their early years of marriage. The Navy brought the Britten Family to Orange Park, FL, 50 years ago, where they planted their roots. Dave said the Navy treated him well; he loved flying and being part of anti-submarine missions, and enjoyed seeing the world wherever his Navy travels took him. After retirement from serving our country, he went on to work for the Florida Department of Revenue. He liked numbers, which is evident by the numerous filled up sudoku books, a favorite pastime.

After retiring from the state, Dave spent years volunteering at The Clothes Closet & Food Pantry of Orange Park. He loved to garden and at one point had nine vegetables and three fruits in rotation in his backyard. Dave and Janet traveled the world in their later years, going to Hawai'i, Alaska, National Parks throughout the Continental U.S., the Caribbean, and the Baltic Sea and Eastern Europe. Dave and Janet spent almost three decades active in the square dance communities of both Michigan and Florida. They danced with The Silver Fox Club of Jacksonville.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Anne Emme.

Dave leaves behind a legacy he and Janet created including, daughters, Nancy, Debbie (Jim) Lineberry, and Shari (Simon) Robb; granddaughter, Sandy (Tom) Deniz; grandsons, Drew (Kayleigh) Petry, Jacob (Tori) Robb, Austin Robb, and Trevor Robb; and step-granddaughters Shannon (Mark) Schmidt and Heather (Jason) Hunnicutt. The generations grew with the addition of six great-grandchildren; Bailey, Brie and Bennett Deniz, and Grace and Eleanor Petry, and Avery Hunnicutt. He is also survived by his brothers, Bill (Sarah) Britten and Mark (Paula) Britten.

Memorial services will be held at Highpoint Community Church, led by Pastor Mike Hailey, on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. The family requests that non-perishable food items be brought to the service for donation in Dave's honor to The Clothes Closet & Food Pantry of Orange Park.

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made in Dave's honor to High Point Community Church of Orange Park.

Matthew 25:23 "His Lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

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