Santa Maria Times
Santa Maria, CA
4 Feb 2009
James was born on September 21, 1922 and after a full life of more than 86 years passed away peacefully at home in Santa Maria on January 22, 2009 from heart failure due to coronary artery disease.
James was born in Loy, Madison County, Arkansas to parents John Riley Russell and Lillie Russell (nee Carter). He was the tenth of eleven children. James started primary school in Kingston, Arkansas and attended there through June 1936. Then he attended country school until June 1937 in Clarksville, Arkansas. Finally, later in 1937 James went to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky as an eighth grader. The school taught first grade through high school as well as college and provided tuition free education to mountain and farm kids that had no other means of paying for it. It was there that he met his future wife Joyce Elaine White. They were married on December 21, 1942 in Ohio.
They lived in several places over the years. After leaving Berea, they moved to Richmond, Indiana where James worked in Dayton, Ohio as a Pressman Helper at McCall's Magazine until March 1943.
Then James joined the United States Navy where he was an Electrician's Mate aboard the original USS Ranger aircraft carrier during World War 2. His tours of duty took him all over the North Atlantic as well as the North Pacific off Alaska plus tours to Hawaii.
After discharge from the Navy in November 1945 James returned to Richmond, Indiana. Six weeks after the birth of their first son, James Brent in March 1946, they moved to Grantsville, West Virginia. There James learned the dry cleaning business from his father-in-law. He was a dry cleaner the rest of his career except for the job as a painter in Florida mentioned next.
By 1949 the family had grown to three sons with the addition of John William and Michael Paige. In 1951 they moved to Deland, Florida where James was a painter for Stetson University. Then, in 1954 James and the family moved to California where they lived in several cities over the rest of his life. The California cities of residence included Highland Park and Eagle Rock through early1965; Simi Valley through mid-1966, Grass Valley from mid-1966 through 1971, and Santa Maria since 1972. This became his home until his passing on January 22, 2009.
One of the things James loved the most, after retirement to Santa Maria, was selling at the Nipomo Swap Meet. He was so involved in this that he rented a permanent building up there for years from which he traded items and had more fun doing that than he had when working.
James is survived by: son James Brent Russell and wife Carolyn of Sun Valley, California; son John William Russell and wife Jacki of Torrance, California; grandson Curtis William Russell of North San Juan, California; grandson Myles Paige Russell of Grass Valley, California; grandson Christopher James Russell of Copperas Cove, Texas; granddaughter Shaneen Friedemann of La Crescenta, California; four great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters: Daisy, Aaron, John, and Nancy of Huntsville, Arkansas, and Samuel Elizabeth of Tucson, Arizona.
James was predeceased by: wife Joyce Elaine Russell (July 1, 1990); son Michael Paige Russell (July 16, 1996); and brothers and sisters: Theodore, Paul, Mary, Steve, and Lillie Mae.
Graveside Service to be held: Friday, February 6, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Santa Maria Cemetery, Pastor Bruce McLain of Pine Grove Baptist Church, officiating.
Place of interment: Santa Maria Cemetery. Magner-Maloney Funeral Home in charge of arrangements (805) 925-2753.
Santa Maria, CA
4 Feb 2009
James was born on September 21, 1922 and after a full life of more than 86 years passed away peacefully at home in Santa Maria on January 22, 2009 from heart failure due to coronary artery disease.
James was born in Loy, Madison County, Arkansas to parents John Riley Russell and Lillie Russell (nee Carter). He was the tenth of eleven children. James started primary school in Kingston, Arkansas and attended there through June 1936. Then he attended country school until June 1937 in Clarksville, Arkansas. Finally, later in 1937 James went to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky as an eighth grader. The school taught first grade through high school as well as college and provided tuition free education to mountain and farm kids that had no other means of paying for it. It was there that he met his future wife Joyce Elaine White. They were married on December 21, 1942 in Ohio.
They lived in several places over the years. After leaving Berea, they moved to Richmond, Indiana where James worked in Dayton, Ohio as a Pressman Helper at McCall's Magazine until March 1943.
Then James joined the United States Navy where he was an Electrician's Mate aboard the original USS Ranger aircraft carrier during World War 2. His tours of duty took him all over the North Atlantic as well as the North Pacific off Alaska plus tours to Hawaii.
After discharge from the Navy in November 1945 James returned to Richmond, Indiana. Six weeks after the birth of their first son, James Brent in March 1946, they moved to Grantsville, West Virginia. There James learned the dry cleaning business from his father-in-law. He was a dry cleaner the rest of his career except for the job as a painter in Florida mentioned next.
By 1949 the family had grown to three sons with the addition of John William and Michael Paige. In 1951 they moved to Deland, Florida where James was a painter for Stetson University. Then, in 1954 James and the family moved to California where they lived in several cities over the rest of his life. The California cities of residence included Highland Park and Eagle Rock through early1965; Simi Valley through mid-1966, Grass Valley from mid-1966 through 1971, and Santa Maria since 1972. This became his home until his passing on January 22, 2009.
One of the things James loved the most, after retirement to Santa Maria, was selling at the Nipomo Swap Meet. He was so involved in this that he rented a permanent building up there for years from which he traded items and had more fun doing that than he had when working.
James is survived by: son James Brent Russell and wife Carolyn of Sun Valley, California; son John William Russell and wife Jacki of Torrance, California; grandson Curtis William Russell of North San Juan, California; grandson Myles Paige Russell of Grass Valley, California; grandson Christopher James Russell of Copperas Cove, Texas; granddaughter Shaneen Friedemann of La Crescenta, California; four great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters: Daisy, Aaron, John, and Nancy of Huntsville, Arkansas, and Samuel Elizabeth of Tucson, Arizona.
James was predeceased by: wife Joyce Elaine Russell (July 1, 1990); son Michael Paige Russell (July 16, 1996); and brothers and sisters: Theodore, Paul, Mary, Steve, and Lillie Mae.
Graveside Service to be held: Friday, February 6, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Santa Maria Cemetery, Pastor Bruce McLain of Pine Grove Baptist Church, officiating.
Place of interment: Santa Maria Cemetery. Magner-Maloney Funeral Home in charge of arrangements (805) 925-2753.
Santa Maria Times
Santa Maria, CA
4 Feb 2009
James was born on September 21, 1922 and after a full life of more than 86 years passed away peacefully at home in Santa Maria on January 22, 2009 from heart failure due to coronary artery disease.
James was born in Loy, Madison County, Arkansas to parents John Riley Russell and Lillie Russell (nee Carter). He was the tenth of eleven children. James started primary school in Kingston, Arkansas and attended there through June 1936. Then he attended country school until June 1937 in Clarksville, Arkansas. Finally, later in 1937 James went to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky as an eighth grader. The school taught first grade through high school as well as college and provided tuition free education to mountain and farm kids that had no other means of paying for it. It was there that he met his future wife Joyce Elaine White. They were married on December 21, 1942 in Ohio.
They lived in several places over the years. After leaving Berea, they moved to Richmond, Indiana where James worked in Dayton, Ohio as a Pressman Helper at McCall's Magazine until March 1943.
Then James joined the United States Navy where he was an Electrician's Mate aboard the original USS Ranger aircraft carrier during World War 2. His tours of duty took him all over the North Atlantic as well as the North Pacific off Alaska plus tours to Hawaii.
After discharge from the Navy in November 1945 James returned to Richmond, Indiana. Six weeks after the birth of their first son, James Brent in March 1946, they moved to Grantsville, West Virginia. There James learned the dry cleaning business from his father-in-law. He was a dry cleaner the rest of his career except for the job as a painter in Florida mentioned next.
By 1949 the family had grown to three sons with the addition of John William and Michael Paige. In 1951 they moved to Deland, Florida where James was a painter for Stetson University. Then, in 1954 James and the family moved to California where they lived in several cities over the rest of his life. The California cities of residence included Highland Park and Eagle Rock through early1965; Simi Valley through mid-1966, Grass Valley from mid-1966 through 1971, and Santa Maria since 1972. This became his home until his passing on January 22, 2009.
One of the things James loved the most, after retirement to Santa Maria, was selling at the Nipomo Swap Meet. He was so involved in this that he rented a permanent building up there for years from which he traded items and had more fun doing that than he had when working.
James is survived by: son James Brent Russell and wife Carolyn of Sun Valley, California; son John William Russell and wife Jacki of Torrance, California; grandson Curtis William Russell of North San Juan, California; grandson Myles Paige Russell of Grass Valley, California; grandson Christopher James Russell of Copperas Cove, Texas; granddaughter Shaneen Friedemann of La Crescenta, California; four great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters: Daisy, Aaron, John, and Nancy of Huntsville, Arkansas, and Samuel Elizabeth of Tucson, Arizona.
James was predeceased by: wife Joyce Elaine Russell (July 1, 1990); son Michael Paige Russell (July 16, 1996); and brothers and sisters: Theodore, Paul, Mary, Steve, and Lillie Mae.
Graveside Service to be held: Friday, February 6, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Santa Maria Cemetery, Pastor Bruce McLain of Pine Grove Baptist Church, officiating.
Place of interment: Santa Maria Cemetery. Magner-Maloney Funeral Home in charge of arrangements (805) 925-2753.
Santa Maria, CA
4 Feb 2009
James was born on September 21, 1922 and after a full life of more than 86 years passed away peacefully at home in Santa Maria on January 22, 2009 from heart failure due to coronary artery disease.
James was born in Loy, Madison County, Arkansas to parents John Riley Russell and Lillie Russell (nee Carter). He was the tenth of eleven children. James started primary school in Kingston, Arkansas and attended there through June 1936. Then he attended country school until June 1937 in Clarksville, Arkansas. Finally, later in 1937 James went to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky as an eighth grader. The school taught first grade through high school as well as college and provided tuition free education to mountain and farm kids that had no other means of paying for it. It was there that he met his future wife Joyce Elaine White. They were married on December 21, 1942 in Ohio.
They lived in several places over the years. After leaving Berea, they moved to Richmond, Indiana where James worked in Dayton, Ohio as a Pressman Helper at McCall's Magazine until March 1943.
Then James joined the United States Navy where he was an Electrician's Mate aboard the original USS Ranger aircraft carrier during World War 2. His tours of duty took him all over the North Atlantic as well as the North Pacific off Alaska plus tours to Hawaii.
After discharge from the Navy in November 1945 James returned to Richmond, Indiana. Six weeks after the birth of their first son, James Brent in March 1946, they moved to Grantsville, West Virginia. There James learned the dry cleaning business from his father-in-law. He was a dry cleaner the rest of his career except for the job as a painter in Florida mentioned next.
By 1949 the family had grown to three sons with the addition of John William and Michael Paige. In 1951 they moved to Deland, Florida where James was a painter for Stetson University. Then, in 1954 James and the family moved to California where they lived in several cities over the rest of his life. The California cities of residence included Highland Park and Eagle Rock through early1965; Simi Valley through mid-1966, Grass Valley from mid-1966 through 1971, and Santa Maria since 1972. This became his home until his passing on January 22, 2009.
One of the things James loved the most, after retirement to Santa Maria, was selling at the Nipomo Swap Meet. He was so involved in this that he rented a permanent building up there for years from which he traded items and had more fun doing that than he had when working.
James is survived by: son James Brent Russell and wife Carolyn of Sun Valley, California; son John William Russell and wife Jacki of Torrance, California; grandson Curtis William Russell of North San Juan, California; grandson Myles Paige Russell of Grass Valley, California; grandson Christopher James Russell of Copperas Cove, Texas; granddaughter Shaneen Friedemann of La Crescenta, California; four great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters: Daisy, Aaron, John, and Nancy of Huntsville, Arkansas, and Samuel Elizabeth of Tucson, Arizona.
James was predeceased by: wife Joyce Elaine Russell (July 1, 1990); son Michael Paige Russell (July 16, 1996); and brothers and sisters: Theodore, Paul, Mary, Steve, and Lillie Mae.
Graveside Service to be held: Friday, February 6, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Santa Maria Cemetery, Pastor Bruce McLain of Pine Grove Baptist Church, officiating.
Place of interment: Santa Maria Cemetery. Magner-Maloney Funeral Home in charge of arrangements (805) 925-2753.
Family Members
Siblings
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Theodore Russell
1906–1906
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Paul N. Russell
1908–1988
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Mary Russell
1910–1997
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Daisy Russell Swearengin
1911–2012
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Aaron Russell
1914–2014
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Stephen Noah "Steve" Russell
1916–2004
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John Moses Russell
1916–2014
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Nancy Margaret Russell Reynolds
1918–2016
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Lillie Mae Russell Philo
1920–2001
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Samuel Elizabeth "Sammie & Sandra" Russell
1924–2016
Children
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