Russell Donald Hulsing II, age 56, died peacefully Saturday, November 24, 2001 at his home on the creek in Ware Neck, Va. after battling cancer with grace and humor.
He was known for his love of flying, fishing, woodcarving and good jokes.
He was born on May 4, 1945 to Russell Donald Hulsing and Betty I. Briggs Hulsing, who have preceded him in death.
He was an airline captain with Atlantic Coast Airlines (United Express) until the time of his illness.
He was an Eagle Scout with a Bronze Palm, a 1967 graduate of the University of New Mexico where he was a battalion commander of the NROTC in his senior year, following which he became a Naval Aviator flying A-6 Intruders.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Elizabeth Price Hulsing; two daughters, Carrie Hulsing of Richmond and Becky H. Takacs and her husband, C.J. of Fairfax; sister and brother-in-law, Lynne and Art Holle of Schulenberg, Texas; and a loving extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services were be held on Thursday, November 29, 2001, at 11 a.m. in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in New Kent, Va. by the Rev. Brian William McGurk.Burial was in the church cemetery.
Sharon King
I was so shocked to hear of Russ's passing when I went to the 40th reunion. Since he married a girl named Sharon, it caused some confusion since many of our Mac classmates had assumed that was me. Our courtship lasted 5 years and included engagement, a ring and we'd even set a date.
Russ was in New Mexico on a full ride NROTC scholarship and I was in nursing school in San Antonio. The Navy kept all the midshipmen on naval maneuvers 2 months out of each summer so time together was rare. I think time and distance apart finally lead to our breakup in 1966. I saw him only twice after that and my father, also in aviation, got a call from Russ when he got out of the Navy. He was hoping that my dad might have some leads on flying jobs post military service.
After the Facebook site began, I found Sharon Hulsing, Russ's widow. We eventually spoke by phone and she filled me in on his final years and the pipe smoking (which he'd started) in college) that lead to his lung cancer and rather rapid demise.
They had just completed building a retirement home in Virginia though he hadn't quit flying until he was diagnosed. They had 2 daughters and the youngest, Becky, was pregnant with their first grandchild during Russ's final days but unfortunately he did not live to see his first grandchild.
Sharon Hulsing was very sweet to me during our brief contacts. She was as curious about the "other Sharon" as I was about her. She passed away in December 2012 at age 68..
I suppose we often harbor feelings about a first true love...I always remember Russ's birthday, had some post breakup contact with his parents and extended family. I was godmother to his second nephew, I'd converted to Lutheran in preparation for our planned marriage. Russ got his Navy scholarship just before graduation from Mac. He was an alternate so it wasn't announced at grad because his status had just changed when the original candidate dropped out.
He was a great guy in so many ways, really smart, an Eagle Scout and became the Cadet Commander of his NROTC unit at Univ. of New Mexico. I went to a military ball there his sophomore year and learned a lot about the pomp and ceremony at these events. I later experienced it again when married to my first husband, an Air Force officer, then again when my second husband went back into the Army after 9/11 and we attended a First Cavalry Ball at Ft. Hood in 2008 just before his unit was deployed to Iraq.
I didn't make a final decision to go to nursing school until Russ got his 4 year Navy scholarship. He had planned to do pre-med at A&M and even had a room reserved. We wanted to get married between his junior and senior years but you can't marry when you have a military scholarship so that gave me the time and freedom to pursue my nursing education. Russ majored in Marine Biology but became a Navy pilot. I became an RN and still working in my career 46 years and counting. I believe things work out the way they are meant to but I always have a place in my heart for Russ Hulsing. He changed my life and I can still remember the happiness and pride I felt when I was a Lassie and I had the number 55 on my big white mum at the Homecoming game since Russ was the first string Center for the Brahma football team and his number was 55!