Russell Havens, Seventh Day Baptist Pastor, Dies at 89

Russell Walter (Russ) Havens, 89, of Uncasville, CT, passed away on July 10, 2026, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. Born on March 24, 1937, in Buffalo, NY, to Walter Lee and Clara Josepha Olivia Havens, both of whom predeceased him, Russ grew up in Kenmore, NY, and graduated from Oneida High School in 1955.

Russ attended Houghton College in Houghton, NY, and joined the US Navy in 1957, serving 10 years as a Dental Prosthetics Technician at Naval bases in San Diego, CA, Kodiak, AK, and Adak, AK. He was honorably discharged in 1967 with the intention of entering the ministry. He attended Fort Wayne Bible College, Andrews University, and graduated from Keene State College in Keene, NH, with a BA in History and Education in 1974. He later earned an MA in Religion from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, in 1976.

Russ taught elementary school in Wisconsin and New Hampshire before serving as the pastor of the Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist Church in Westerly, RI, where he was ordained in 1978. His spiritual interests extended over a wide range throughout his life. Although he was ordained as a Christian minister, his service and teachings were rooted in the beliefs and practices of the Seventh Day Baptist denomination, which emphasize the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath and a commitment to biblical principles.

After his pastoral service, Russ worked as a Programmer and Project Leader for two financial institutions in San Diego, CA, and later for the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA), from which he retired in 2002. Upon retirement, he relocated to his much loved home in the heart of the White Mountains in Randolph, NH, which he referred to as his paradise.

Russ married Paula Lorraine Hazen in 1958, and the couple had three children who survive him: Lori Ellen Havens (Hank Knight) of Westerly, RI, Teresa Anne Shea of Uncasville, CT, and Timothy Russell Havens (and his wife, Tara) of Verona Island, ME. He is also survived by his four grandchildren and one great grandson. His youngest brother, Kenneth Gage Havens, was killed while serving in the war in Vietnam in 1969, and his middle brother, Robert Frank Havens, passed away on July 18, 2024.

Russ enjoyed walking, hiking, climbing, and was an avid jogger for many years. He found great contentment tending the grounds around his home. He enjoyed reading since early childhood when his grandmother read to him, fostering his love of books. Like his mother, he loved photography. He combined this interest with his computer skills to produce a wide variety of videos and photo slideshows, and to maintain three websites, including one devoted to his family. He was an avid computer gamer.

Russ’s life reflected a deep commitment to family, faith, and personal interests. His journey from military service to ministry and then to a career in technology illustrates a life of diverse experiences and dedication to various callings. His legacy includes a family, a community of faith, and a personal life filled with creativity and purpose.

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