I am extremely saddened to write that Dave Pearsall has passed away. Many of you know him as 'divedigger' here on the site when he would post. Dave was a definite 'old school ' digger based in the Wilmington, NC area. But he was so much more. He honestly did some of the best preservation work on shells through electrolysis any of us has all ever seen, and many have benefited from his thorough work with what are now considered beautiful relics. He was also an avid diver, taking his love for searching for relics underwater. Unfortunately, he was diving in Virginia this week, and something went wrong and he did not surface with his dive buddies. An extensive search by authorities finally located him. No answer yet what wrong, but to his friends and family the loss is sudden and severe....
Artillery shells was his passion for relic hunting, and he was good at it ! He has dug some extraordinary shells through the years. He recovered hundreds of shells from around the area and beyond, both land and water. I was with him when I dug my first shell - an excellent 200 lb Parrott ! He was miffed at first because it was 'his spot' and he had taken me out, but 20 seconds later he was joyful for me and slapping me on the back. Thats the way he was , ever giving and sharing.
Lots of you on the forum know him and I know we all are saddened by this news. He left us way too early, there was still alot of adventure left in him.
He is survived by his love, Lynda, 2 sons and a daughter, and his brightest shining star, his grandson Chase
We will all miss you Dave, and wish Lynda and your family peace in these tough days and years to come. You have left a hole in the relic community, that can not be filled.
There is a saying I use in days like this, ' you can't make new old friends' . And that's so true... especially as we are all getting 'a little long in the tooth'. A digging buddy can not be replaced, and stories and adventures go with them. So sad.....