David W. Russell
REMEMBRANCESDick Wyles: I roomed with Dave Russell in Trumbull for 2 years. He was a good guy and a good roommate from Owego, NY, a small town in central NY. Dave could play any sport and play it well. He played on the Trumbull football, basketball and baseball teams. He was also probably the best pool player and ping pong whiz in Trumbull. In retirement, he lived on a golf course in a private community on the border of Virginia and North Carolina and became a scratch golfer. I stressed Dave’s athleticism, but he was first and foremost a good friend who was fun to be around.
Dave Martin: We had some serious jocks in our entryway – Ed McCarthy, Tim Merrill, Ralph Vandersloot, Dick Wyles – but everybody knew who the best athlete was – Dave Russell, hands down. It wasn’t just that he ruled the basketball court and pool table in the basement of Trumbull. He was the master of anything involving hand-eye coordination. I watched him pick up a fireplace poker and balance it on the tip of his chin while he walked around the room. That sounds like he was showing off, but he wasn’t. For all his athletic talent, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone less interested in drawing attention to himself than Dave. It took forever to get him to confess to his all-everything high school career, and it wasn’t until after he died that I found out he’d been valedictorian as well.
OBITUARY
David “Dave” William Russell, Sr. of Bracey, VA, passed away peacefully at his home, with his wife by his side and surrounded by his family, on Monday, January 22, 2024 at the age of 80. He was born on May 8, 1943 in Endicott, NY to the late Charles and Wilma Glann Russell and was married to Cheryl Morse Russell, who survives. Dave earned his Masters degree from the University of North Carolina and did his undergraduate studies at Yale University. He retired from IBM, where he worked in contracts and procurement. Dave was an avid golfer and reader, sometimes reading as many as 3 books in a day. He will be remembered as an intelligent and analytic man that loved his family and was a good neighbor and friend.
In addition to his wife of 25 years, Dave is survived by his children, David “Rusty” W. Russell, Jr. (Yvonne), Kim Marie Russell, all of Cary, NC, Brooke Porter (Rick) of Wake Forest, NC, Lisa Lloyd of Boydton, VA and Josh Nickol (Brooke) of Waynesville, NC; grandchildren, Nicholas Pearce (Connor) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Trace Russell, Payne Russell, Banks Russell all of Cary, NC, Gabbie Adkins (Jacob) of Danville, VA, Finn Porter of Wake Forest, NC, Hunter Eubanks of Durham, NC and Brenna Lloyd of Boydton, VA, Ben Nickol, Luke Nickol and Grace Nickol all of Waynesville, NC; sisters, Dorothy Cooper of Owego, NY, Jean Manchester of Sanford, NC, Sandy Dwyer (Robert) of Raleigh, NC, Jackie Murray and Connie Tibbetts (Jim) of Canton, GA, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Dave’s family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. The Cremation Society of Virginia is serving the Russell family. Online condolences may be made at www.cremationofvirginia.com.