Kenneth Lee Russell

Kenneth Lee Russell came into this world July 8, 1951; one of two sweet babies born to Cleo and James Russell on that day in Middlesboro, Kentucky. When he was a young child, the family moved to Clinton, Tennessee where Ken and his father’s construction business blossomed. Ken’s childhood was full of wonderful, mischievous adventures with his brothers and sisters as well as close friends in the small Eastern Tennessee town he still considered home. Kenneth attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. He subsequently joined the Air Force; but before he reported for boot camp, he spent the summer working as a camp counselor at Camp Montvale located in Maryville, Tennessee, at the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. While there, Kenneth met the love of his life, Suzanne Kahl. The two immediately became friends and carried on a relationship through correspondence while Kenneth was serving his country in the Air Force. However, in the summer of 1974, the letters were heating up and Ken could wait no longer to make Suzanne his own. The two were engaged and later married at the camp on September 7, 1974. Although marriage consists of both good and bad times, rich and poor times, and times of sickness and health, the couple was committed to being there for one another through it all. Ken, my father, passed from this earth on April 19, 2014. He was taken suddenly and unexpectedly, but he left us with life lessons we will carry on the remainder of our days. The most important of these was love; not only what true, unconditional, sacrificial Christ-like love looks like; but also the willingness we, ourselves, as sinners must have to give our hearts over to our Father God in order to be able to exhibit this type of love. For love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Ken has touched the lives of countless people and his loss has left a hole so deep it seems as an abyss, but comfort must be taken in the knowledge that one day we will be reunited, and on that day we will rejoice! Kenneth is survived by his beautiful wife, Suzanne Russell; daughter, Amanda Russell; son, John Russell; daughter-in-law, Sara Russell; grandchildren, Arcada Cameron, Charly Cameron, and Owen Russell; sisters, Paulette Duggins and Alene Russell; brother, William Russell; sister-in-law, Michele Kahl-Zbikowski, and his beloved nieces and nephews.

Charitable donations to honor Ken can be made to:

Garry and Anita Chambers c/o

Mission to the World

PO Box 116284

Atlanta GA 30368-6284

Ivan and Heather Moore c/o

Coalition for Christian Outreach

5912 Penn Avenue

Pittsburg PA 15006

Ken’s granddaughters are excited to attend camp this summer. If anyone would like to help with their fees, please contact Sue. Any additional donations collected will be sent in honor of Ken to YMCA Camp Grady Spruce to allow other children the summer camp experience he so treasured.