David Vaughan Russell was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 22, 1949, the eldest son of Vaughan Frederick Russell and Elisabeth Louise (Hart) Russell, and passed away 25 November, 2021 in Ottawa, Ontario, in his 72nd year.
David joined the Russell family, while his father was stationed on the east coast with the RCAF, but later moved to Kincardine, Ontario, a small cottage community on the shores of Lake Huron, after his father completed his service. His mother's family had been in the area for many years so he easily became the gem of his Grandparents world when they relocated there.
David grew up in " Cottage Country ", a summer time paradise, where the blustery snow filled winters eventually turned into hot, sunny and fun filled times with tourists from all over Ontario, Michigan and their neighbouring states. The tourists brought the town to life every May 24th weekend and kept it humming until the last tourist car headed south on Labour Day weekend.
David attended WE Thompson public school and later the Kincardine and District High school. With the encouragement of his family, he became an active youth member of the Church of Messiah and was later confirmed into the Anglican faith. He was a very handsome and social young man, so was well known amongst his peers and met many new friends every summer.
He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1967 and completed his military indoctrination and training at CFB Cornwallis where he learned what a future in the Navy would entail - travel, adventure, education and numerous new experiences. He covered many nautical miles in the following 29 years with international assignments onboard ships like the HMCS Protecteur, and land based postings in Halifax,Ottawa and Victoria. Retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 1996.
After David retired he stayed within the extended Navy family and found great satisfaction working at Fleetway Inc in Ottawa providing logistics and expediting support to the Canadian ships when they were on assignment throughout the world. He did his best to ensure when the Navy ships needed spare parts that they were shipped to them as quickly as possible.
He retired in 2019 and devoted much of his time to his Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper and his favourite Harley Davidson motorcycle, all of which will miss his constant polishing and cleaning, as he waited for sunny days to take them out driving.
David faced many health challenges in his latter years but stood tall and fought back against them for a very long time. He was a likeable person who was a mentor to many of his friends as they too faced serious health issues beyond their control over the years. He will always be remembered for his generous support to others who coped with the same health issues he did.
He is survived by his younger siblings - Stuart ( Debra ) in Calgary, Sylvia Holdaway ( Ken ) in Port Elgin and Miriam ( Percy ) in Mississauga, as well by son Christopher ( Nicole ) and their sons, Brandon, Jaydon and Ashton of Ottawa and daughter Tianna Dupuis (Andre) and their children, Andre Jr and daughter Avery, from Victoria.
David will be interred in the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa and Memorial Services will be held May 21, 2022.
To all of those who knew him, a friend, colleague and exceptional person has passed. He will be missed but never forgotten.
We wish him smooth sailing and favourable winds as he takes on his next voyage into the future.