David Wolcott Russel

David Wolcott Russel died surrounded by family at the age of 71 on Monday, April 15th, 2024. David was born April 21st, 1952 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of Joseph Wolcott Russel and Margaret Van Hecke.

David graduated from the University of Nebraska with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Physics. His long career as a software engineer focused on automated testing and included work for Bell Labs, AT&T, and VW Credit before retiring in 2018. While working at Bell Labs/AT&T, he met lifelong friends in the Holmdel, New Jersey area.

He married his wife, Theresa Ann Russel, in 1996 in Middletown, New Jersey before moving to Crystal Lake, IL, where they raised their son and made additional lifelong friends. David was a loving and supportive husband and father.

He was a kind and generous soul and loved entertaining family and friends. He enjoyed cooking, playing military history board games with his son and friends, reading history and science fiction books, watching westerns, and spending time with his beloved dogs. David moved to Colleyville, TX with his wife after his retirement.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Theresa Ann Russel, his son, Joseph Wolcott Russel, dear family member Neresa Wiliams, his sisters, Laura (Kelly) Pendergraft, Jeanine Russell, Susan (David) Bercaw, and Madeline Russel. David was a loving Uncle to many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rear Admiral Joseph Wolcott Russel, his mother, Margaret Van Hecke, and his sister, Colleen Russel.

David’s Celebration of Life will be held back in Illinois near Prairie Grove, where we raised Joey. A Mass will be held at 10 am at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Barrington, IL located at 120 N. Ela Street. followed by a burial of his remains at Transfiguration Catholic Cemetery on Route 176 East in Wauconda, IL 60048. A Celebration of Life reception will be held immediately after the burial.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.