Charles Edward Russell

It’s with a heavy heart that the family of Charles E. (“Charlie”) Russell shares word of his passing on March 5, 2020. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones and the sound of his grandson playing acoustic guitar.

Born in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1935, Charlie was the oldest son of Arlow and Pauline Russell. Along with brothers, Gary and Richard, Charlie spent his youth working at his father’s skating rink and was then promoted to his family’s Mobil service station. Consequently, Charlie was both an excellent roller-skater and mechanic!

In 1957, he left behind his home town of Chanute, Kansas (and his high school sweetheart) to join the Airforce. Three years later, he returned to Chanute while on leave, found that “gal” again (Judy Whitworth), and swept her off to his new post in Moses Lake, WA. While in the Airforce, Charlie served as an Airman 1st Class, specializing on C124 Globemaster cargo planes. After leaving the Airforce, Charlie went on to work on the Boeing flight-line as a mechanic. Later, he joined the teamsters and began driving tractor-trailer delivery trucks in downtown Seattle and the surrounding area.

While raising their family, Charlie and Judy fully embraced the Northwest lifestyle with skiing, fishing trips, and camping. After retirement, they spent time traveling, antiquing, going to classic car shows, and collecting antique pottery. Charlie also continued his lifelong hunt for LPs and 45’s, to add to his huge record collection. But by far, retirement was most devoted to his four grandsons. Charlie was present for every ball game, every performance, every milestone, and encouraged every interest. He was able to see each one of them go on to college and pursue their interests. As one of his grandsons said, “Grandpa was a man of few words, but being there for every event spoke volumes.”

Charlie approached life with common sense and hard work. He was a gentleman, who could not sit still while anyone else was working. You could always depend on him to have a pocket knife at the ready, a spiral notepad in his chest pocket, and take meticulous stats during baseball games. Charlie and Judy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January. Charlie is survived by his wife, Judy, daughter, Mindy Smart, grandsons Ryan and Taylor Smart, great-grandsons, Riley and Brady Smart, son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Denise Russell, and grandsons, Rockie and Jake Russell.

Charlie will be memorialized in a service at Tahoma National Veterans Cemetery in Maple Valley, WA at a date to be announced. Remembrances can be made to the Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson’s research and/or Providence Hospice of Seattle.