Dorotha Mae Russell

Dorotha Mae (Weise) Russell was born in Adair County, Iowa on March 3, 1920, the daughter of August F. and Matilda F. (Wambold) Weise. She died in Tomball, Texas on May, 10, 2018. As part of the war effort, she moved to Champaign, Illinois in 1942 as a first woman telegrapher for the Illinois Central Railroad. There she met and married Robert J. Russell. She is survived by two children, Marilee K. Belanger of Spring, Texas and Robert O. (Ann) Russell of Biloxi, Mississippi, and three grandchildren. Dorotha was ordained a Deacon of the United Methodist Church in June, 1973, and served many congregations in the Central Illinois Conference until her retirement. Her cremains will be buried beside those of her husband in East Lawn Cemetery, Urbana, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be may to Cunningham Children’s Home, 1301 North Cunningham Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61802.