Russell Denis Spaulding, 74, of Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., died on Thursday, July 2, 2009.
Mr. Spaulding was born September 13, 1934 in Covington, Ky. He served in the United States Army, First & Eighth Infantry Divisions. He attained his B.A. in Secondary Education from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., studied Elementary Education at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, and received his M.Ed. Degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
A career educator, his first love was teaching. Mr. Spaulding served as a teacher, principal and school administrator, including serving 14 years as superintendent of the Mason City School District in Mason, Ohio, from 1973–1987.
He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Jaycees, the Shriners and the Masons. He was director of the Scottish Heritage Program at Lyon College, Batesville, Ark, and served as the executive director of the Ozark Scottish Festival, held each April at the College, from 1989-1992.
A lifelong musician, Mr. Spaulding was best known as a bagpiper, piping instructor, Pipe Major, composer, and as publisher of two books: "The Spaulding Collection" and "A Piper's Primer" for the Great Highland Bagpipe. He studied piping under the renowned Scottish piper, Duncan Johnstone.
He was a past Pipe Major of the Pipes & Drums of Arkansas College, the Caledonian Pipes & Drums of Cincinnati, and the Syrian Temple Scots of Cincinnati, where he served as Pipe Major for the Scots band that won the Imperial Piping Championship in 1989. He served briefly as Pipe Major for the Alhambra Shrine Pipes & Drums locally. He was a founding member and the original Pipe Major for the City of Chattanooga Pipe Band from 1999 – 2008.
Mr. Spaulding’s leadership, dedication to teaching, and contribution to the preservation of Scottish bagpipe music touched countless lives. The piping community in particular has lost a valued mentor and cherished friend.
Mr. Spaulding was preceded in death by his parents, Bessie Mae Moore Spaulding and Roy Tilton Spaulding.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Deborah Y. Simpson Spaulding, brother, Roy Spaulding, son Scott Spaulding, daughters, Gretta Spaulding and Melody Spaulding Farmer, grandchildren Morgan and Collin Farmer, stepson, Joseph Simpson, stepdaughter, Sharm Simpson Perry, and his beloved dog Murray.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in National Cemetery with full military honors.
Honorary pallbearers will include representatives from the city of Chattanooga Pipe Band and the Alhambra Shrine Pipes and Drums.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the City of Chattanooga Pipe Band, Ed Merritt- Treasurer, 10118 Walden Street, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379.
Visit www.heritagefh.com to view the memorial tribute and share condolences.
The family will receive friends from 4–8 p.m. on Sunday and Monday at Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.