This
seems to be the year of losing a generation of Russell men. In March I wrote of
the passing of Robert Russell (http://ramblinrussells.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-last-of-his-generation.html).
He was the last remaining of the children of my great-grandfather Louis Russell’s
half-brother James Walter Russell, thus being my first cousin, twice removed.
His siblings, Donald and Shirley passed away in 2007 and 1994 respectively.
Every one of the Russell cousins at that level of the family tree have now
passed away. Only Donald’s wife, Helen, is still living – at the age of 92.
The
next level in the family tree are the second cousins of my father (my second
cousins, once removed). Since my father was the oldest son of the oldest son of
the oldest son, all of his second cousins were younger than he was, in fact,
many are around my age. I am friends on Facebook with many of those who are
still living. Of 50 great-grandchildren of Walter Russell, here are the 24 who
are still living:
·
From Louis Russell: Shirley Macnaught;
Gertrude Anderson
·
From Martha [Russell] Bradley: Chester
Bradley; Lois Scheuritzel, Barbara Speer, Linda Lee, Arthur Bennett, Richard
Bennett
·
From Charlotte [Russell] Hoyt: George
Hosford, Hazel Condon, Sharon Floryancic
·
From George Hall Russell: George Russell,
Jim Russell
·
From James Walter Russell: Patricia Luopa,
Donna Todd, Judy Case, Laura Donaldson, Sandra Kamen, Sean Mecsery, Stephen
Mecsery, Robert Russell, Renee Crow, Michele Teplica, Kim Thompson
This
blog is about one of my second cousins who just passed away at the age of 92 –
Andrew [Andy] Lewis Russell, Jr., the oldest grandson of George Hall Russell.
Here is his obituary:
Andrew Lewis Russell,
Jr., 92, of Snow Hill, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Chesapeake
Cottages in Snow Hill. Born in Washington DC, he was the son of the late Andrew
Lewis Russell, Sr. and Gertrude Xmas Becker Russell.
Andrew was a US Army
veteran and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Temperanceville, VA, St. Paul On
The Shore Lutheran Church in Hallwood, VA, and the Elks Lodge. He and his wife
previously lived in Modest Town, VA. He enjoyed fishing and was an avid
Washington Redskins fan.
He is survived by his
loving wife of 72 years, Dorothy Elizabeth Moore Russell; a daughter, Denise
Elizabeth Eberspeaker & husband, Phil of Salisbury; 2 sons, Andrew L.
Russell, III of Ocean City, and Thomas A. Russell & wife, Ginger of
Dunkirk, MD; 6 grandchildren, 7 great granddaughters and one great great
grandson; and 2 brothers, Jim Russell & wife, Avis of TX and George Russell
& wife, Sally of FL.
Since
I only began doing my genealogical research about six years ago, I have not had
the opportunity to have face-to-face meetings with many of these distant
cousins who I never knew while growing up. But I have come to regard them all
as family and have enjoyed meeting some of them face-to-face and others via
social media. So it is still sad when one of them passes on. Andy’s younger
brother Jim posted the following yesterday:
A very bittersweet day today. The memorial service for my brother Andrew
Russell Jr. who passed away at 92 on June 4. [My] sister in law and one of his
granddaughters put together a table with his favorite treats. I guess we shared
a love of chocolate chip cookies. Sad day, but a wonderful celebration of his
life, love of family, and cheerful smile. He will be sadly missed but held
forever in our hearts.
In Sunday school this morning we talked a
little about the legacy that we leave. Since most of us will not leave a large
monetary estate, the legacy will be mostly the memories that we leave for those
who continue to live. Jim stated it well – “sadly missed, but held forever in
our hearts.”
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