Russell E. Slipher

Mr. Slipher, 91, went peacefully to join his wife at eternal rest on March 29th, 2011 at Carolina’s Medical Center. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

A longtime resident of Charlotte he was born on March 7th 1920 in Hamilton, Ohio to the late Margaret and Harry Slipher. He grew up in the Hamilton Children’s Home where he learned the value of hard work and discipline. A star on his high school football and swim teams he won a football scholarship and attended The College at William and Mary, where he played lineman. While there he met and fell in love with his wife Marge. They married after college and Russell worked in the shipyards at Newport News, where he worked on the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown and Battleship Indiana and several other WWII Navy ships. He served with George S. Patton’s 3rd Armored Division as an Infantryman at the Battle of the Bulge where the men that fought will always be remembered as “The Greatest Generation”.

After he and Marge returned to Charlotte after the war he worked for Ross and Whitmer. Later he worked for Robert E. Mason Company, where he later retired. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret of almost 64 years, a daughter Patricia Anne Schlie, a sister Lillian and brother Harry. He leaves behind a daughter Dottie Gerow (husband Mark) of Charlotte, Son Russell Slipher Jr. of Asheville, five loving grandchildren: Marcus Gerow (wife Dawn) of Charlotte; Walter R. Schlie of Charlotte; Kenneth D. Gerow (wife Megan) of Cherryville; Stephanie Slipher of New York City; Lauren Slipher of Asheville, two Great Grandchildren; Kamryn and Brayden Gerow of Charlotte.

A longtime member of Providence United Methodist Church, Russell has spent the last five years of his Life at the Regency Retirement Center and for a short time at Elmcroft Assisted living. The family wishes to thank the staff of both facilities for the loving care that was given to Russell. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations might be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Charlotte, 3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215 or Disabled Veterans, 1634 Eye Street, # 750, Washington, DC 20006 or St. Jude Childrens Hospital, 6000 Fairview Rd., Charlotte, NC 28210.

There will be a visitation from 1:00-2:00 pm on April 10th, 2011 followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm in the Chapel at McEwen Funeral Service Pineville, 10500 Park Rd. Charlotte, NC 28210. Entombment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park Mausoleum, 5617 Monroe Rd. Charlotte, NC 28121.

Online condolences can be made at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.