Russell Edwin Cronkhite

Russell Edwin Cronkhite passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, following a long struggle with interconnected illnesses ending with cancer, at the age of 71.

Russell was born in Los Angeles on April 7, 1953 to Edward and Adeline Cronkhite, the youngest of four children. After a tumultuous youth, he became a Christian as a teenager while in a juvenile detention center, changing his life forever. He met his wife Marina in Los Angeles at a Bible study during the Jesus Movement, and they were married on August 12, 1972. They lived a nomadic life for the next decade, as Russell moved the family around the U.S. opening up hotels in San Antonio and Atlanta, before settling down in the Washington D.C. area in 1985. Pursuing a love of cooking instilled by his wonderful grandmother, Russell had a remarkable career as a world-renowned executive chef. During his 12-year tenure at Blair House, the President’s Guest House, he was honored to serve three U.S. presidents, many foreign dignitaries and heads of state. Russell went on to earn his MBA from The George Washington University, and enjoyed a lifelong passion for art, music, and literature. The author of two published cookbooks, he enjoyed his retirement years in Old Town Alexandria preparing delicious meals for his wife, family, and friends, playing with their dogs, and spending time with his four grandchildren.

Russell is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Marina, their three children: Isaac Cronkhite and his wife Joanna; Rachel Wimer and her husband Andrew; Ian Cronkhite and his husband Gary; and four grandchildren, Zachary, Calder, Emerson, and Elliott. He is pre-deceased by his daughter, Chelsea. His legacy of faith in God, steadfast love for family, dedication to his culinary craft, his fantastic food, as well as his unconventional intellect and zany humor, will be forever remembered by his family and friends.

In honor of Russell’s memory, donations to Oakseed Ministries International https://oakseed.org/ are welcome.5.