Samuel Frazier Russell Jr.

Sam was born in 1918 in Stillwater, Oklahoma to Marguerite and Samuel F. Russell, Sr. He was an alumnus of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, where he met his beloved wife Ruth Faust Russell, who preceded him in death in 1994. He served his country as a Captain in the Army Signal Corps during WWII before embarking on an engineering and management career at Western Electric Company in Chicago. He was a leader in radar technology installed in military aircraft during WWII and an engineer designing the early defense radar-based warning system. Later moves with the company took him to Newburgh, New York and finally in 1962 to Atlanta. He was a charter member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, active in coaching youth baseball, and a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan who received a shout-out during a televised game on his 100th birthday. He is survived by his four children: JoAnn Plenge (Charles), Janet Francek (Michael), Samuel F. Russell III (Valerie), and Scott Russell. He will be greatly missed by his nine grandchildren: Rachel Plenge (Art), Andrew Plenge (Jamie), Alison Plenge (Colin), Natalie Waer, Jason Francek (Christine), Tyler Russell (Christine), Caitlin Rabreau (Brian), Richard Russell, and Samuel F. Russell IV. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren: Ben and Parker Plenge, Nora and Lucas Aitken, Jack and Alex Waer, JJ and Drew Francek, and Peyton Rabreau. Other survivors include his brother Charles K. Russell and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by a brother Keith Russell and sisters Virginia Francis, Rosemary Schmidt, and Mary Sybil Beebe. A celebration of his life will be held at Sandy Springs Chapel followed by inurnment with military honors at Arlington Memorial Park,136 Mt. Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Sandy Springs Youth Sports www.sandyspringsyouthsports.com. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday December 7, 2019 at Sandy Springs Chapel, Sandy Springs, Georgia.