Charles M. Russell

Charles was born on January 17, 1922 in Butler, Pennsylvania to William Colter Russell and Jennie Claire Noble Russell.

Charles grew up during the great depression, which gave him a hard work ethic, and a profound sense of loyalty to friends, family, and country. He proudly served his country in the US Navy during World War II from 1942 -1945, and was involved in the final bombardment of Japan that led to the Japanese surrender, and the end of the war. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked in various jobs during his lifetime, including laying tile for a few years, and a decade in the oilfields in West Texas and Southwest New Mexico. After that, he chose a different path that let him do what he loved the most, farming near Springdale, Arkansas. The farming he did included raising grapes, peach and apple orchards, working on a dairy farm where he milked 50 to 60 head of cattle two times a day, and raising 38,000 chickens across three chicken houses.

Charles was saved at the age of 40, when he accepted the Lord our God as his personal Savior, and led him to develop an already strong base of love and compassion, into a foundation that kept the family together through hardships and adversity. Even with all of his accomplishments and triumphs in life, Charles knew he was still just a man, capable of failure, and so he turned to the Bible every day to seek out strength, knowledge, and wisdom. His undying love for the Lord was matched only by his overwhelming and immense love for his family. He would take every chance he could to be around them, and loved listening to them sing.

The loss of Charles has left a void in family, but this void will be filled when they are reunited with him in the kingdom of our Lord, to live out the rest of eternity with Him by their side.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, one sister, and the love of his life and mother of his children, Jennie Margarene Horton Russell.

He is survived by two sons: Ernest Keith Peach and wife Bettie of Pensacola, FL; and Charles William “CW” Smith Sr. and wife Brenda of Odessa, TX; his two daughters: Laverna Sue Smith Tune and husband, Gary of Fredericktown, MO; and Janet Eileen Smith Cree and husband Dub of Odessa, TX; sister-in-law, Joy Russell; 16 grandkids, 38 great grandkids, 1 great-great grandson, numerous nieces and nephews, and friends.

Visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday, August 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Frank Wilson Funeral Home, 4635 Oakwood Dr .

Services will be held in the CrossRoads Fellowship Chapel, 6901 E. Highway 191 and Billy Hext Rd., at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 29th to celebrate his life. Reverends Griffin Jones and David Newton will be officiating. Burial will follow at Ector County Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. To sign the guest book, go to our website at www.frankwwilson.com