Walter "Sawmill Man" Russell McDaniel
Russell “Sawmill Man” McDaniel, 83, of Salem, Virginia, went to be with the LORD on April 24, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maude Barton McDaniel and Marshall Roosevelt McDaniel, his son Michael Anthony McDaniel, and his sister Mary Blackwell. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lois “Judy” McDaniel, sister Mildred Garman, brother Paul McDaniel (Sadie), sister Marie Shupe (Robert), brother Ray McDaniel, his children Michelle “Shelly” Fears (Douglas), Marshall McDaniel (Denise), Jamus Skelton (Karen), Steven McDaniel (Liz), his grandchildren Kseniya (Marco), Oksana, Nastya (Vitaly), Lena (Victor), Lyuba (Vanya), Bayan, Megan, Courtney, Katelyn, Joshua, Mason, Morgan, Sierra, and his great-grandchildren Samuel, Maria, Christina, Artyom, Arthur, Zlata, Miroslav, Eva, Mark, McKenzie, Camden, and Blaine, along with numerous other young people that Russell mentored in areas in which he was knowledgeable.
He loved woodworking, running his own sawmill, using “old interesting tools,” and building projects. He enjoyed history, traveling, camping, collecting old books, and studying genealogy. He was an accomplished musician—building and playing his own instruments. He played guitar, dobro, banjo, auto-harp, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, organ, piano, harmonica, jaw harp, harpsichord, and even spoons and a hand saw. As a child, he was a champion checkers player and loved playing in the woods with his brothers, especially with wooden wagons and wild animals, including skunks.
His career included serving in the US Air Force, installing and repairing elevators for the Otis Elevator Company, and working in electronics testing for 30 years at General Electric in Salem. After retirement, he volunteered at the Johnson Farm on the Blue Ridge Parkway, mastering an “ole timey accent.” He purchased a sawmill, sharing his hobby, humor, and kindness through sawing logs. He made many buildings and furniture with his sons and others throughout the community. He even disassembled, moved, and rebuilt an old cabin. Many folks knew him as “the sawmill man.”
He loved his family, spending many hours researching genealogy and hosting family reunions. He loved taking family vacations. Yet, “for his vacation dollar, he couldn’t beat Colonial Williamsburg.” He and Judy went there for their honeymoon, took many family trips there, and returned for their 40th anniversary.
Russell never met a stranger—he always was the kindest to cashiers, baggers, servers, and tour guides since he was just “naturally curious.” There was never a dumb question. He was Walmart’s most underpaid greeter.
The family wants to thank the kind people at Salem Rehab Center—especially the therapists, nursing staff, and Julie from Good Samaritan. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Catawba Valley Baptist Church building fund (Catawba Valley Baptist Church, PO. Box 12, Catawba, Virginia, 24070).
The family will Receive Friends on Friday, April 26, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Simpson Funeral Home (Peters Creek). A Chapel Service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the same location, officiated by Pastor Aaron Mansfield of Catawba Valley Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park.
