

Russ’s last day on this earth was Valentine’s Day, and fittingly, he spent it with his valentine of 47 years, who spent the day "talking to him, hugging and kissing on him and keeping him comfortable"...
Russ’s last day on this earth was Valentine’s Day, and fittingly, he spent it with his valentine of 47 years, who spent the day “talking to him, hugging and kissing on him and keeping him comfortable.” His wife described that day in this way: “It was everything I hoped it would be for the worst day of our life and the best day for him.”
In many ways, Russ was defined by his dedication to his family and to his country. Russ was a proud United States Marine. Described by his daughter as a hero, Russ loved his job in the Marines as a C 130 navigator and had many stories he liked to share with his family and friends about his Marine travels. His favorite place in the world? A toss-up between the cockpit of a C 130 and the beach!

Russ’s interests were many and varied. He loved books, hiking in the outdoors, and his pets. Described as interesting and humorous, Russ enjoyed his wife, their children, and their grandchildren. His wife remembered, “We laughed a lot in our marriage. He was the love of my life.” Two of Russ’s greatest pleasures were traveling and NASCAR. He and his wife spent many happy days, precious time together, traveling the country in their RV. They often attended Daytona and the Texas Motor Speedway. Those are days and memories his wife looks back on with joy.

The Texas summer of 2022 was brutal, with day after day of temperatures in the 100s. As a result, the utility bills were high at the same time that the family wanted to focus on Russ. Project 4031 was able to pay the family’s electricity and water bills and offer Russ and his family a little relief. His wife said, “Thank you so much for your financial assistance and support. You are a blessing to many families!” We are proud to have had the opportunity to serve Russ, a man who committed so much of himself to serving our country well.