Russin

Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Charles Russin, 88, of Kingsport, Tenn., formerly of Butler, passed away Wednesday at his home with his family.

Nick was born Feb. 6, 1922, in Butler and has been a resident of Kingsport since accepting a job as research chemist with the Tennessee Eastman Co. in 1950, where he worked until retiring in 1985.

He began violin lessons at the age of 5 and made his violin debut in Pittsburgh's Carnegie Hall at the age of 7.

He graduated from Washington and Jefferson with Phi Beta Kappa honors and earned his master's and doctorate of science degrees from Carnegie Institute of Technology.

He also attended UCLA during the beginning of World War II to learn to determine the weather on naval ships in the South Pacific, serving on the USS Midway.

Nick was a talented athlete, and played baseball at UCLA, where he struck out 20 batters in one game as a pitcher. He was offered a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds but joined the Navy instead and was in the South Pacific in the latter part of World War II.He was a longtime member of the Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church and was a deacon, elder, choir member and/or director for more than 44 years and a Johnson Memorial Sunday School teacher for many years. Other memberships he enjoyed were the VFW, the Lions, the American Legion and the Elks.Nick was a past worshipful master of the Kingsport Masonic Lodge and was a member for more than 50 years. Nick was a Sullivan County commissioner.He also was a violinist for more than 30 years in the Kingsport Symphony Orchestra as well as a past president and board member.He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas and Rose Russin.Nick is survived by his loving wife of more than 62 years, Marie Dumbaugh; a son, Thomas Nicholas Russin, and a daughter, Nicki Bacon and her husband, Joe, all of Franklin, Tenn., a daughter, Sally Dingus and her husband, Mark, of Kingsport; grandchildren, Wes, Chase and Emily Bacon; a sister, Betty York of Middletown, Ohio; an uncle, Andrew Russin of Butler; and several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.Special thanks is given to Home Instead, especially caregivers Jessica Gray and Cathy Honan and Wellmont Hospice.

<B>RUSSIN </B>— The family of Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Charles Russin, who died Wednesday, April 14, 2010, will receive friends following the memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Tom Phillips will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Oak Hill Memorial Park with military rites conducted by the VFW Post 4933 and Masonic graveside rites conducted by the Kingsport Lodge 688 F&AM. Pallbearers will be family members. Honorary pallbearers will be the Johnson Memorial Sunday School Class.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church Organ Fund.Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to send an online condolence to the family. <B>Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes,</B> Kingsport, is serving the family of Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Charles Russin.