CEC John Charles Russell

CEC John Charles Russell, 80 of King George, VA and formerly of Hallstead, PA went to be with the Lord on May 31, 2021.

John was born in Scranton, PA to John T. Russell and Catherine M. Connor.  He served 22 years in the United States Navy as a Seabee and retired as a Chief Construction Electrician.  After his retirement, he returned home to Hallstead and went to work for the National Park Service at Steamtown in Scranton, Pa. where he would work for an additional 8 years before retiring a second time.  John was a devoted Catholic and was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Great Bend, Pa and St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in King George, Va.  He tied hundreds of rosaries with twine and sent them to the troops overseas or left them in the back of the church for people to take every weekend.  John was a member of the VFW and American Legion.  He loved to shoot and to make muskets.  He was an avid hunter and a lifetime member of the Blue Ridge Sportsman Club and Old Mill Village Association.  He loved to fly fish and tie flies, but most of all, he loved the lord and his family.

John is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 57 years, Dixie Russell (Howland); his two daughters Coleen Colton and her husband Paul and Shawn Simmons and her husband Jim; his daughter-in-law Sherry Russell; five grandchildren Tom Russell, Sarah Russell, John Colton (Nicole), Bryan McDermott (Katie) and Joey McDermott; two great-grandchildren Liam Colton and Violet Rose McDermott; his sisters Carolyn Ross and her husband Larry Ross and Kathy Howell and her husband Bill Howell; his sister-in-law Agnes Russell and brothers-in-law Richard Terboss and James Howland and numerous nieces and nephews.  He is preceded by his parents; his son Joseph P. Russell; his brothers Richard E. Russell and Joey Russell; and his in-laws Anna and Richard Howland.

A funeral will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church 9140 St. Anthony’s Rd, King George, Va 22485 on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 12:00. Viewing hours will be held at Tuttle-Yeisley Funeral Home 25 Susquehanna Ave, Hallstead, PA 18822 on Sunday, June 6, 2021 from 4 PM to 8 PM followed by a burial on June 7, 2021 at 12:00 at St. Lawrence’s Cemetery in Great Bend, PA.  In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to The Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth, St Joseph’s Convent 8175 State Route 492 Jackson, PA 18825 or St. Anthony of Padua Mission, 9140 St. Anthony’s Rd, King George, VA 22485