Obituary of David Botsford Lyman

MERIDEN - David Botsford Lyman, 62, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 29, 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Deborah Woessner Lyman; son Remington Perry Lyman of Columbus, Ohio, brother-in-law Dennis Woessner and wife Sherrill of Colchester; Douglas Woessner of Anchorage, Alaska; “Grandma” Dolores Woessner; two brothers Wallace and Charles Lyman and wife Carolyn, as well as numerous nephews and cousins.  

Born in Middlefield, Connecticut on June 12, 1955, he was the son of the late Pearl Green and Charles Lyman III.  He attended the Independent Day School in Middlefield and graduated from Wilbraham and Monson Academy. 

Lyman attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he was a member of the varsity rifle team. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska to study rifle coaching under Robert Hickey and there he met his wife, Deborah, a member of the University of Alaska Anchorage Rifle Team.  They married in Anchorage and moved to Connecticut where he entered the family business, The Blue Trail Range Corporation. His successful business career was an extension of his hobby, the safe and accurate handling of firearms which extended to coaching shooters, young and old.

Lyman was a nationally ranked competitive rifleman who earned the National Rifle Association Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Award for both prone and position shooting. He was the 1981 and 1982 National Smallbore Rifle Three Position Champion. In service rifle competition, he won the Golden Eagle Trophy, emblematic of the junior championship in the National Individual Trophy Match.

He was an Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association; Life Member and served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver  Association; Past President and Lieutenant Governor of the Meriden Kiwanis Club; and, NRA Certified Rifle Instructor who trained almost 20,000 Connecticut youngsters in safe firearms handling.

In lieu of flowers it is requested that contributions be made to The Blue Trail Range Junior Club Endowment Fund, Inc. c/o Craig Fishbein, Esq., Fishbein Law Firm, LLC, 100 S Main St, Wallingford, CT 06492.

Calling hours will be Sunday, September 10, 2017, 3:00 - 6:00 PM at the B.C.Bailey Funeral Home, 273 S Elm Street, Wallingford. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. www.BaileyCares.com