William Ronald Russell

William Ronald Russell, was born October 9, 1936 in the town of La Pointe, Wisconsin. His home was in the Apostle Islands but his life was with the Army and the young German girl who would become his wife for 66 years.

He joined the United States Army January 6th, 1956 and left the freshwater of Lake Superior to train at Camp Chafee, Arkansas and from there his duty stations included Aschaffenburg Kaserne, Germany, Ft. Bliss, Texas, Ft. Eustis, Virginia, Nancy, France, where he was selected to become a Warrant Officer at Ft. Hood, Texas in 1964. He was assigned to the Dominican Republic in support of “Operation Power Pack” and returned to a tour at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Where “Chief” Russell was sent with the 725th Maintenance Bn. 25th Infantry Division to support the war in Vietnam earning a Bronze Star. Upon his return, he was again assigned to Europe: Mannheim, Germany until his service in Thailand and a return to Ft. Hood. One more PCS would find him in Baumholder, Germany with a final tour at Ft. Hood, where he would retire on November 1st, 1980 and make Killeen his home.

He was proud and honored to serve his country as a soldier, but his finest moments were the ones he devoted to being a kind, loving husband, and an amazing father.

Survivors include his loving wife, Helga Büttner Russell, his children, Rose Gershel of Georgetown, and David Russell (his wife, Supanuporn) of Killeen. His grandchildren include, Elizabeth Gershel O’Neill (her husband, Patrick) of Huntsville, Alabama, William F. Russell, and Joseph S. Russell of Killeen. His great grandchildren, Addison Coulouridis and J.C. Cullen of Huntsville and Bill’s sisters, Deloris Russell Fliter and Karen Russell Vinkavich.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, Bernard and Vivian Russell, his brothers, Bernard Clair, Raymond and Richard Russell and his son-in-law, Christopher P. Gershel.

Visitation, and a memorial service will be held at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas on Monday, April 15th, 2024 beginning at 12:30 pm. Burial will be following at Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery with full military honors.

You may leave a message or memory in our online Guestbook at www.dignitymemorial.com/crawford-bowersfuneralhome/killeen