Etta M. Russell

Etta Mae Gibbs was born on Thursday, March 4, 1948, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was the first child (“First Girl”) of seven born to the union of William J. and Tessie A. (Coe) Gibbs, both who preceded her in death. In 1963, the family moved from Missouri Street to Riverside Drive. Etta attended elementary school at IPS School 23 and graduated with academic honors from Crispus Attucks High School in 1966. She was number four in her graduating class. Etta attended Hanover College in 1966 in Southern Indiana being one of twelve Black students out of a student population of 2800. While there, she met Charles Russell (who was playing basketball for an opposing team), and they later married on June 28,1969. Etta graduated from IUPUI in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and later earned a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University in 1987. Etta was always an exceptional student with great initiative. During her elementary and high school years, she was a National Merit Scholarship finalist and repetitive Spelling Bee Champion. She possessed an excellent command of the English language. Beginning in high school, Etta held several secretarial and clerical jobs at Crispus Attucks Night School, American Can Company, the US Post Office, and Indiana Health Careers. Her siblings lovingly referred to her as “First Girl”. Though not tall in stature and with an overall mild persona, she was, however, a very capable force, both intellectual and physical. Some of her siblings could attest to her physical strength when she would wrestle them to the ground (Elly May Clampett style) to persuade them to do their chores. Charles and Etta became a military family when Charles enrolled as an officer in the US Army in 1971. Etta continued in her line of work at various military posts while their travels took them to faraway places including Taipei, Taiwan in 1976. In 1978, they returned to Indianapolis where Charles was an instructor at the Fort Benjamin Harrison Army School of Finance and Etta worked as a typist, file clerk and library technician for the Fort Ben Library. With Etta’s love of books and education and her sense of order, she found a new calling in the field of Library sciences. After earning her Master of Library Science degree, Etta participated in the US Army Library Intern Program at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA for a year before landing her career position at Fort Leavenworth, KS. At the Center for Army Lessons Learned, Etta developed an official system for cataloging Military events. She developed a Thesaurus of Acronyms and Definitions. She traveled the country instructing other government workers on the use of her Thesaurus while gathering information for its further development. Etta’s travels took her to New Orleans, LA; Washington DC; San Francisco, CA; and FBI Headquarters at Fort Meade, MD. In 2008, Etta retired from The Center for Army Lessons Learned and she and Charles again returned home to Indianapolis to reside. Charles and Etta have a host of nieces and nephews, with whom they shared many delightful camping and fishing trips. Steadfast in their love for family, they showed up at many events both near and far to celebrate and support the life and times of their nieces, nephews, and siblings. They were always present and usually the first to arrive at siblings’ birthday luncheons, an enjoyable practice adopted several years ago allowing the siblings and spouses to celebrate and stay current with one another. If you missed Etta’s birthday on March 4th, no worries because she celebrated her birthday all month long! While First Girl liked to eat, she would not eat leftovers. And though not widely known, First Girl could sing! Nancy Wilson and Dionne Warrick were two of her favorite singers in her teenage and young adult years. Etta was a lifelong student of the Bible. She possessed an enduring faith and love for God which she shared with her siblings, nieces, nephews, and others. Charles and Etta would host Bible studies at their home. They attended The Blended Church in Indianapolis. Etta is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charles Russell, siblings: Patricia Highbaugh, William E. Gibbs, Sharon (Kelsey) Blinks, Angela Ellis, and Theresa (Cecil) Clarke; Aunt Mary Rowe; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. A visitation for Etta will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 1:00 PM. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Russell family.