Marjorie Bess Russell

Marj was a pillar of wisdom and a loving matriarch of her family and community. Her beautiful spirit, deep faith, and sense of humor were a source of inspiration, comfort, and joy to those who were blessed to know her.

Marj spent her childhood on her family farm in Bowling Green, Missouri, which she recollected often with great fondness. She graduated from Bowling Green High School and went on to study at the University of Missouri, where she took a bachelor’s degree in economics. She spent the next chapter growing and raising her family. She and her husband, the late Thomas F. Russell, had four children and lived in several communities around the country before settling in Centerville, Ohio. Eventually Marj went back to school, earning a Masters in Social Work from Wright State University, and serving as Clinical Director at St. Joseph Residential Treatment Center for 20 years. Her post-retirement years were devoted to travel, family and friends, and spiritual practice. Marj was a Religious Science Practitioner and then Practitioner Emeritus at the Center for Spiritual Living where she has many friends. Throughout her elder years Marj counseled many both at the Center and in her home.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Thomas F. Russell; parents, Kirby and Lena Wilson; and by her sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Bill Hungate.

She is survived by a daughter, Susan (Richard) Chema; sons, Steve Russell, Stanley (Mie) Russell, and Scott (Lori) Russell; grandchildren, Alexis (Edgar) Chema, Carolyn (Nick) Chema, Jordan (Alex) Russell, Samuel (Lindsay) Russell and Sky Russell; and great grand children, Inez Garcia-Chema and Ezra Garcia-Chema.

Visitation will be Friday, August 1, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 4701 Far Hills Ave. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday at the Center for Spiritual Living, 4100 Benfield Road, Kettering 45429.