Eileen L. Russell

Eileen Louise Russell, 99, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in San Juan Bautista, CA on Wednesday morning, October 23, 2019. She was born July 14, 1920 in Akron, Ohio to Howard Blonda and Minnie Della Windle, née Jackson. She is survived by her daughter, Robin Dell Russell, son Michael Dennis Russell and his wife Sheridan, granddaughter Shane Russell and grandson Robin Scott Russell and his wife Emily.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Ellen Marie Kacher, Lucille Kathryn Mitzel and Wanda June (Bonnie) Conner. She was the youngest of the four Windle sisters.

Eileen was an active athlete during and after her high school days, and with her sister Bonnie played many different team sports from gymnastics to competition rifle marksmanship to baseball (hardball before a league of their own!) and basketball to bowling.

She earned her license in Cosmetology in Ohio and moved out to California with her sisters after WWII. She joined Bonnie in ownership of Bonita’s for Beauty, their beauty shop in Woodland Hills, CA until retirement.

Eileen’s passions were threefold: She loved music and was known to often have a song on her lips, she loved animals and was an enthusiastic supporter of the ASPCA, and she loved her Los Angeles Dodgers, was a fixture at Dodger Stadium eventually becoming the oldest member of the Dodger Booster Club.

No local services are planned for Mrs. Russell, although a Celebration of her Life will be observed by family and friends sometime early in 2020 in Southern California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that if you wish to make a donation to your local SPCA, your gift would be most welcome (and Eileen would certainly approve!).