Lt. Col Charles Richard Russell

CHARLES R. RUSSELL, AGE 87 A RETIRED AIR FORCE LT. COLONEL PASSED AWAY MARCH 3, 2019 AT THE VA COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER IN BONHAM TEXAS.
FUNERAL: 9:00 AM MONDAY MARCH 11,2019 AT FELLOWSHIP UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, TROPHY CLUB TEXAS WITH INTERNMENT FOLLOWING AT 11:30 AM AT THE DFW NATIONAL CEMETERY IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS. NEED TO ARRIVE AT NATIONAL CEMETERY AT 11:00 AM.VISITATION WILL BE SUNDAY MARCH 10TH AT LUCAS FUNERAL HOME, 700 WEST STREET, GRAPEVINE,TEXAS 76051.
MEMORIALS: IN LIEU OF FLOWERS DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO VA COMMUNITY IN BONHAM, TEXAS at: SAM RAYBURN MEMORIAL VETERENS CENTER, 1201 E. 9TH STREET, BONHAM, TX 75418 - 909-583-6282 OR THE ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION at http://tinyurl.com/y4x8f8b3 .
PALLBEARERS: BRIAN RUSSELL, ROBERT RUSSELL, ZACHARY RUSSELL, KYLE RUSSELL, TRAVIS RUSSELL AND CHARLIE RUSSELL. HONORARY PALLBEARER JAMIE JORDAN.

CHARLES (SHORTY) RUSSELL WAS BORN IN SHREVEPORT, LA ON MARCH 18TH, 1931 TO MARY ANN AND CLAUDE CHARLES RUSSELL. CHARLES GRADUATED FROM FAIR PARK HS AND LOUISIANA TECH IN RUSTON, LA WITH A DEGREE IN PETROLEUM ENGINEERING AND FROM THE INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN 1974.
CHARLES ENTERED THE AIR FORCE IN MARCH OF 1956 AND RETIRED MARCH 1980 AS A LT. COLONEL AFTER 24 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY TO INCLUDE 6 TOURS IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
HE MARRIED JANE WILLIAMS IN SHREVEPORT, LA. AFTER PILOT TRAINING ACROSS HIS CAREER AS A PILOT THEY WERE STATIONED AT BARKSDALE AFB, CARSWELL AFB, AND OFFUTT AFB. CHARLES SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR IN GUAM, U-TAPAO, AND NA CON PHANOM.
AFTER RETIRING FROM THE AIR FORCE IN FEB 1980 CHARLES HAD A MEANINGFUL CAREER WORKING FOR FATHER FLANIGAN’S BOYSTOWN IN OMAHA. HE WAS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND LATER DIRECTOR OF BOYS TOWN USA, BUILDING SITES FOR ORPHANS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
CHARLES AND JANE ARE MEMBERS OF FELLOWSHIP METHODIST CHURCH IN TROPHY CLUB TEXAS, THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AND THE DAEDALIANS.
CHARLES WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS MARY ANN AND CLAUDE RUSSELL, HIS BROTHER JOE RUSSELL. CHARLES IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE JANE RUSSELL, SONS MICHAEL AND WIFE MARY, MARK AND WIFE CARLA, PATRICK AND WIFE RENEE, GREG AND WIFE CARMEN ALONG WITH 10 GRANDCHILDREN AND 5 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
WE WANT TO THANK ALL THE NURSES, DOCTORS AND STAFF FROM THE VA IN BONHAM TEXAS WHO LOVINGLY CARED FOR CHARLES FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN
THE RUSSELL FAMILY’S HEARTS.
GOD SPEED CHARLES AND FLY FAST AND FAR WITH YOUR NEW ANGEL WINGS!