David Lawrence Leighton, age 68, died peacefully on Thursday (7/19/2018) at his Sanford home. Born on October 14, 1949, son of the late Kenneth Leighton and Winnifred Sprague Leighton, he grew up on a small farm in downeast Maine. After graduating high school he served twenty years as an air traffic controller in the U.S. Marine Corp. Following his retirement he returned to Maine and was later baptized as a Jehovah's Witness serving zealously as a ministerial servant and a pioneer. David loved animals and was especially fond of his wolf dog Nannook. He, also, enjoyed deep sea fishing. Surving is his wife Sandra A. Leighton of Sanford, his brother Sherman Leighton of Pembroke, Maine, and children Loretta Francasso-McLeod, David Leighton Jr., Robin Zemla, Edward Leighton, Christopher Eakman, and Peter Leighton; step-children Elizabeth Shampine, Audrey Tripp, Katherine Stower, Shawn Kennedy, David Kennedy and many grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 28 ^th , 2018 at 5pm at the Sanford Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness. Online condolences can be made at www.smithfuneralhomebroadway.com Arrangements are by the Smith Funeral Home of Broadway.