In Memory of David E. Russell

Obituary

David E. Russell, 93, of Whitesboro, passed away on August 10, 2026, after a long illness.  David was born on November 8, 1932, to the late William Ernest and Margaret Esther Russell of Monnett, Ohio.

David graduated from Mount Zion High School in 1950 and worked at Swan Rubber Company and the Pennsylvania Railroad section gang until he was drafted into the US Army in 1952.  He served in the Korea 45th Division Military Police and transferred to the Panmunjom United Nations Military Command Police until April 1954, then returned to the US and was assigned to Fort Sheridan Military Police until he was discharged in December 1954.

After leaving the Army, he graduated from Central Technical Institute, Kansas City, MO and worked as a Specialist, Test Equipment Engineering at GE in Utica from 1957 until 1990, working on the F111 Attack Radar, B1 Forward Looking Radar, and F20 Radar.

David married Joyce Kent on June 20, 1959.  David was a member of the First United Methodist Church of New Hartford for over 60 years and served as trustee for many of those years.  He served as membership chairman and president of New Hartford Young at Heart Seniors for many years and enjoyed numerous bus trips with his wife with the New Hartford and Whitesboro Seniors.  He bowled and golfed in leagues for many years and later was a member of the Utica Curling Club.  He grew a large vegetable garden for more than 40 years, starting his own plants from seed and sharing plants and vegetables with friends and neighbors.  David was honored to be a passenger on Mission 15 of the Syracuse Honor Flight to Washington, DC in September 2021.

David is survived by his wife, Joyce, daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Anthony George, and grandsons, Gregory and Jeffrey George.  The oldest of five siblings, he was predeceased by his sisters Sarah Walls, Ruth Spurgeon, and Virginia Thiel, and his brother Roger Russell.

Calling hours will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM with funeral services to follow at 11:30 AM at the First United Methodist Church, 105 Genesee St, New Hartford, NY 13413. Interment will be in Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at the convenience of the family.  Arrangements are with Freidel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford.

Donations in David’s memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church of New Hartford, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.

For online expressions of sympathy go to fwefh.com.