David Arthur Russell

As Bea and I left my Dad's hospital room for the last time I looked around and saw the hospital grade OSU mugs sitting on the counter. I think to myself, "better take those with me or they will just get thrown away." I giggle. Man! Just like my dad, David Arthur Russell, 75, who died peacefully earlier that morning, September 24th 2022 - almost exactly 6 years after my Mom, Diane Margaret (Fartro) Russell had passed. He left behind not only me, Amy Jo Kathryn (Thomas) Morris and my brothers, Ian David Russell, Benjamin Michael (Stacie) Russell and Matthew Douglas Russell, but also his seven grandchildren, Rhett, Rowan, Colton, Logan, Regan, Kensie and Piper, and his partner, Bea Gardner.

Dad was born on March 23rd, 1947 to the late Donald “Jack” John and Alice (Cady) Russell in Bay City, Michigan. He grew up near Cleveland and attended Marietta College where he studied theater, earned a teaching degree and a varsity letter for playing tennis. Marietta College was also where Dad developed his love for table tennis - a sport that my brothers and I have great memories playing with Dad.

Dad was always very active in our lives and we learned many life lessons from him. He coached many of our various sports teams and we learned that once you are committed to something you stick with it until the end. Dad directed many plays when he was teaching. From the time he spent directing and building sets for those plays, we learned that anything worth doing is worth doing right. When Dad retired from teaching, he became a full time house painter. From that change in career path, we learned that anything that happens to us in life is an opportunity to learn, so we should have no regrets. We also heard the phrase, “Bored people are boring people.” Dad was never bored and often said he was a “Jack of all trades, but a master of none.”

Mom and Dad cruised around the world together. Their favorite cruise was to Alaska, but they also visited Europe and the Panama Canal. Dad loved history and biology and would "study" before every trip so he would be able to accurately identify historic places and animals. Dad became quite the photobug and would come home from vacations dying to show us all the great pictures he had taken.

After Mom died, Dad started playing pickleball and met and made himself at home with Bea Gardner. He enjoyed the new life he had with Bea. Together, they wrote a play, Widows at the Club. Dad could finally add “playwright” to the list of his accomplishments.

Dad might have thought he had lived a remarkably unremarkable life. I disagree. I think he led a remarkable life filled with love, laughter and experiences from which to learn. He will be missed by many. Excuse me while I pick up that aluminum can.

Graveside services will be held for close family and friends on October 5th, 2022 at 11 AM with Brother Tom Bohman, CPPS from St. James the Less officiating. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.

All are invited to attend a Celebration of Dad’s Life to be held on Sunday, October 23 at 2 PM at The Golf Club at Little Turtle, 5400 Little Turtle Way, Westerville, Ohio 43081.