September 2, 2009  

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  David A. Russell, Sr., 85, Watertown, passed away Tuesday evening, Sept. 1, 2009, at Samaritan Keep Home, where he had resided since Sept. 22, 2004.

Calling hours will be held 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 214 Sterling St., Watertown. The funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, at the funeral home with Rev. Walter Giles officiating. Burial will be in Sanford Corners Cemetery, Calcium, with Navy honors.

Donations may be made in his name to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 1425 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Mr. Russell was born in Sackets Harbor on Aug. 10, 1924, the son of Harold and Carol Gibbens Russell. He attended Sackets Harbor schools, receiving his GED while serving in the Navy.

In Nov. 1943, he entered the United States Navy. He served in the Seabees in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and was honorably discharged in April 1946. On Aug. 2, 1966, he reentered the Navy, served two tours in Vietnam, and was honorably discharged on April 16, 1969.

In Aug. 1948, he married Anita Bergstrom at St. John's Church, Oswego and the marriage ended in divorce. In April 1974, he married Geraldine Fitzgerald at Emmanuel Congregational Church, Watertown, and she died in 2008.

He had been a tractor trailer driver for Seaway Trucking for 20 years. He was a former member of Trinity Episcopal Church., the Sackets Harbor Volunteer Fire Dept., and a former Sachets Harbor school bus driver. He was a member of the NYS Teamsters, Potsdam, the VFW, Watertown, and a life member of the American Legion, Sackets Harbor.

Mr. Russell is survived by a daughter, Catherine Ann Russell, Saranac Lake; two sons, David A. Russell, Jr., and his wife, Debra L., Watertown, and John A. Russell, Los Angeles, Calif.; a step son and his wife, Gary and Wendy Fitzgerald, Brewerton; three grandchildren, Amanda L. and Patrick Barrett, Atlanta, Ga., and Gregory D. and Andrew J. Russell, both of Watertown; three step grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by a son who died in infancy and a brother, Frederick Russell..

Information provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown