David Alan Rugless

David Alan Rugless, the third of seven children, was born April 13, 1952 to the late Ivan and Esther Rugless in Rochester, New York, and closed his eyes to rest on May 8, 2017. David was a lover…. He was a lover of life, a lover of learning, a lover of people, a lover of music, a lover of family and a lover of God. David was a lover of life. From an early age, David had a love for living, for exploring the world around him. He wanted to know how to do everything and wasn’t afraid to try things he had never done before. From pretending to be Superman and jumping off the garage roof with a sheet tied around his neck, to taking things apart and putting them back together, to exploring new opportunities, David was always eager to experience life. He didn’t own a television because he felt it was a waste of time. Instead, he chose to read and kept abreast of world events through radio, newspaper and the Internet. When it came to living, David believed you needed to make today count—and he did. David was a lover of learning. David loved learning, as was evidenced by his academic pursuits. After graduating from Madison High School in Rochester, New York, he went on to earn a Bachelor of General Studies degree with concentrations in Business Administration, Music, and Theology from Oakwood College, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Alabama Aamp; M University, and a Master of Arts degree in African-American and African Studies from Ohio State University. In addition to these degrees, he began pursuing a doctoral degree in History. David was always finding articles and documentaries or books that he would share with everyone on religious, political or social issues on which he felt they needed to be current. He was not content to simply learn it for himself, but believed there was power in knowledge, and was determined that those he cared about should always be informed. Professionally, David held several different positions. While in high school he worked at the Hochstein School of Music, and after high school he secured a position at Chase Lincoln Bank, eventually being promoted to Assistant Bank Manager. While a student at Oakwood College he was the manager of the college bakery. His love for computers, which at times rivaled his love for music, allowed him to form a typesetting business called, Campus Industries, based in Huntsville, AL. He worked at Ohio State University for 12 years in several capacities, most recently as Background Check Manager. After amassing 22 years of experience in the area of investigation and security services, David formed his own company, Employment Screening Solutions by Corporate Fingerprinting. Although he worked diligently in the corporate arena, there was no question that David’s musicianship held a prominent position in his life. David was a lover of music. David’s love of music began as a child. David’s mother taught all seven children basic piano, but for David, it became like the air he breathed. Growing up in our house there was always music playing. You could tell when David was awake because music would start playing. David loved jazz. He studied and played with jazz artist, Chuck Mangione, and performed at the Newport Jazz Festival when he was only 17. David started playing for churches not long after that, and for the past 50 years provided rich musical ministry for those churches, utilizing choirs, ensembles, trios and soloists. For years, David played for and provided the Hammond Organ at the Oakwood Pastoral Evangelism Council. David would personally transport and set up the organ and play for the entire Council. In fact, whenever churches didn’t have the equipment he felt necessary, he would supply it himself. In churches that couldn’t afford a drummer or bass player, David would take his drum machine. If the church couldn’t afford microphones or a keyboard, David would bring a sound system and his own instruments. When David committed to worshipping through music, his offering was going to be the best he had to give. His musical ministry included churches/choirs in Rochester, New York; Huntsville, Decatur, and Moulton, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; and Springfield and Cleveland, Ohio. One of the members of the Cleveland church told us that in the 23 years David directed their choir he only missed one rehearsal. That is a reflection of the love he had for music and the dedication he had to perfection. Although jazz was David’s first love, he heard an album one day by the First Baptist Young Adult Choir of Huntsville, Alabama, and was impressed by the pianist, Antoinette Wilson, and fell in love with gospel music. When, later, he had the opportunity to visit with Antoinette and Murph, the trajectory of his music ministry changed significantly. But David also loved classical music and choral music. He loved hymns and praise music. David loved music. He played for many artists over the years, but one person he often mentioned who greatly impacted his life was Pastor T. Marshall Kelly. He often commented that Pastor Kelly’s life reflected the words he sang in his songs. David was a lover of people. David loved people, and people loved David. Every church David worked with he took the time to get to know the people and not just the pastor or the choir, and they became family for him. His choirs were not just taught music. The members knew that David cared about what was happening in their lives. He took the time to pour into young musicians, and mentored countless upcoming pianists and organists. When David worked at Oakwood College he took time to make sure students trying to go to college were directed to resources, and encouraged them when they were struggling to push through. This interest in students continued after leaving Oakwood. The testimony of many a student, now in professional careers, was that they would not be where they are had David not been in their life. David was a lover of family. David loved family and was fiercely protective of his immediate and extended family. He accepted the role of surrogate father when we were young and took that role seriously. He consistently extended himself to ensure we were safe and our needs were met. And for our mother, the absolute love of his life, there was nothing he would not and did not do to make sure she was cared for. He was intentional about keeping the legacy of this family alive and frequently connected with the elders in our family. David adopted hundreds of people – mothers, sisters, brothers – and though he and Diane had no children of their own, David had hundreds of young people he looked out for and influenced. David was a lover of God. David loved the Lord. Like David of old, our David was a man after God’s heart. He understood that God had called him to a life of service which he accepted. But beyond serving others, David saw the cross as personal – Jesus died for him and he recognized that the blood was a special, precious gift. David shared his love for God with people in his own way. His commitment to church was first a commitment to God, recognizing that he was tasked with leading souls to Christ through his music ministry, but even more through his life. Although his death was sudden for us, we don’t grieve as those who have no hope. We believe that God’s timing is perfect. We are assured that it won’t be long now until we will be reunited with David and our loved ones who are resting in Jesus. David leaves to cherish his memory his life companion, Diane Ramey-Rugless; one uncle, Leslie Rugless; aunts: Minnie Rugless and Pearl O’Malley, sisters: Marilyn (Lee) Duncan, Janet Rugless Poles, Delores Rugless, Florence Thomas and Sylvia Rugless; brothers: Roy (Elaine) Rugless and Keith Rugless; nephews: Sean (Katrina) Rugless, Steven Martin, Christopher Gibbs, Edward Ross, Christopher Ross and Christopher Forbes; nieces: Michelle Duncan, Tiffany Rugless Thompson, Kimberly Duncan, Fedoria (Cortez) Stewart, Melody Forbes, Lauren Rugless, Dawn Forbes, Desireé Duncan, and Shelly Ross, and a host of other relatives and friends.