06/24/2023
David Derrick passed away on June 18, 2023, at the age of 66.
Dave was born on September 25, 1956, the son of Leslie Gerald Derrick and Louise Conklin Derrick. His childhood love of the outdoors and rivers and streams manifested into a career in potamology. He spent his entire adulthood traveling the country walking outdoors along streambanks and rivers. He retired after 35 years with Engineering Research and Development Center at Waterways Experiment Station. Since 1996 he has been co-owner and Vice President of River Research and Design (R2d) where he continued his passion of designing stream erosion, control, and restoration solutions and immersing himself in the outdoors he loved so much.
Dave had a spirit for adventure and a tenacity for living life to the fullest. He was known for his Fu Manchu and handkerchiefs, of which he had one in every color and for every occasion. Dave had a passion for antique cars and he was one of the founding members of the Vicksburg Cruisers Car Club. Some of his children’s earliest memories are traveling to car shows with him. Dave began collecting antique signs as a young adult and that passion exploded into a collection rivaled by most collectors and museums. Anyone that has been to his house knows how well he has filled every available inch with signs. When there was a space to be found, Dave was known to measure it and take a picture so that he could find the exact right size sign on his next antiquing adventure. This hobby led Dave to be one of the most well-known pickers and collectors in the sign community. He drove all over the country for his work, and he made life-long friends at every antique store and vintage show along the way. He invited these friends to “pick” in his home and he went “picking” at their homes as well. He was the original American picker.
Dave was always the loudest person in the room with the biggest smile. He loved his work and his hobbies, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren (Peyton and Jackson Rainer, Kaylyn and Michael May, Ryan and John Reed Derrick and Cooper Jackson). If he wasn’t spending time with his grandchildren or buying signs for his grandchildren, then he was talking someone’s ear off about his grandchildren. They were the joy of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda Derrick; daughters, Dana May (Daniel) and Amy Rainer (Drew); and sons, Ian Derrick (Allie), Jason Jackson, Brent Jackson, Howie Starnes and David Derrick Jr.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2023, followed by a service in the chapel at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home on 5000 Indiana Ave, Vicksburg, MS 39180. There will be no graveside service. Reception to follow at the Vicksburg Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Partners for Clean Streams or for you to plant a tree directly or via the charity of your choice. Dave loved nature and preserving the beautiful outdoors is the best way to memorialize him. https://www.facebook.com/partnerforcleanstreams?mibextid=LQQJ4d
RIP…. Double D we had some grand adventures together!!
