David Paul Ruzsa

David Paul Ruzsa, 55, born Monday, March 19, 1962, in Portland, Oregon, to Sandor and Norma Ruzsa, left us much too soon Saturday, June 10, 2017, from Grand Coulee, Washington. A 1981 graduate of Evergreen High School in Vancouver, Washington, David went on to a technical institute in Arizona, where he obtained his HVAC certification and received his AA Degree from Clark Community College in Vancouver. He also achieved his BS Degree and continued to be a lifelong student. From his boyhood years throughout adulthood, David loved spending time in the out-of-doors.

One of his favorite camping and hiking areas was the beautiful sub-alpine area in the shadow of southwest Washington's Mount Adams known as the "Indian Heaven Wilderness." David's family remembers with laughter one such camping trip to "Indian Heaven" during which the mosquitoes were so bad that David's poor dog "Buster" dug a hole in the ground to bury his head to get away from the nasty pests. When David returned home the exposed area at the small of his back between his shirt and beltline was covered with welts from bites.

During Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 4, 1993, David's life changed forever when he married Raquel Andreason at the Community Center in Camas, Washington. In November of 2007 they moved from La Center, Washington, to Grand Coulee, where David began work at Grand Coulee Dam as an electrician, becoming a power plant supervisor. David loved his job and was honored to work with the high calibre of personnel at Grand Coulee Dam, and also loved being a member of the coulee community.

David loved experiencing life – whether crabbing at the Oregon Coast, boating with family on Yale Lake in southwest Washington, cruising the Caribbean, traveling to Mexico or simply walking hand in hand with Raquel enjoying a sunset together. Anyone who spent much time at David's house also found out that he was an avid collector of many things, including cameras, insulators, and loud/tacky Hawaiian Shirts! Never one to pass up finding a garage sale treasure, David had recently discovered "Vintage Fairs," which he looked forward to with great excitement. A genius when it came to finding solutions to unique situations, David was the go-to "MacGyver" of his family – always able to help. Most important to David, though, was always his family, whom he loved far beyond all else! "David was our constant calm in the storm...our anchor."

David's legacy lives on through his family – the loves of his life: his life partner of 23 years: Raquel Ruzsa; his daughter, Isabella Ruzsa; his son, David "Alex" Ruzsa; parents: Sandor and Norma Ruzsa; brother, Richard (Jackie) Ruzsa; sisters: Catherine Ruzsa (Ed Taylor), Elizabeth (Daryl) Kautz, and Laurie (Victor) Addington; and proudly known as "Uncle Dave" or "Cousin Dave" to his many nephews, nieces and friends.

Please make any donations in David's memory to the charity of your choice.

A celebration of David's life will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 17, 2017, in the Stone Community Church in Coulee Dam, Washington. There will also be a celebration of his life at the Grace & Glory Church in Vancouver, Washington, on Saturday, July 8, 2017, at 11 a.m. At David's request, cremation is taking place.

Please sign his online register book at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, is honored to be serving David's family.