William Russell

Funeral services for William Russell will be held on Wednesday, April 24th, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Chaplain Terry Wofford officiating. A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 23rd, 2019 from 1:00pm until 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.reedculver.com

Honorary pallbearers for William include Ethan Ackerman, Beau Kilpatrick, Mikey Russell, James Dollarhide, Paul Dollarhide, Ronald O’Rear Jr and Dante William Kilpatrick.

William Russell was born on January 17th, 1938 in Rocky Ford, OK, the son of Ben Russell and Nancy Russell. William grew up with two brothers and a sister, Joe, Andrew and Patty. William graduated from Oaks High School and went on to join the United States Army on September 13th, 1961. Having participated in military exercises in Alaska such as “Great Bear”, where during February 1962 along the Tanana River, one of the coldest spots in the North America, temperatures reached minus 65 degrees. His endurance qualified him as a member of the “Great Bear Way Below Zero Club” during the Cold War. After honorably serving his country, William found a passion for animals so he took a job at a Safari Wildlife reserve. Caring for people and animals not only brought him comfort in his life, but was a way to keep life in perspective and not take anything for granted. He saw the little things in life to be the most important and with William being artsy, he would handcraft metal chimes out of aluminum cans or do simple yardwork on a cool day. Wherever nature was you could find William, enjoying a day of fishing and was a good way to relax in his eyes. William also liked a lazy day from time to time and channel serving the TV for anything good to watch, sports being his program of choice. Most of all William loved his family dearly and they will always be close to his heart. On April 19th, 2019, William passed from this life with his family be his side.

He is preceded in death by his father, Ben Russell, mother, Nancy Russell, one sister, Patty Ackerman, and one brother, Andrew Russell.

He is survived by his brother, Joe Russell of Bixby, OK, nephews, Ethan Ackerman of Tahlequah, OK, Mikey Russell of Bixby, OK, Paul Dollarhide and wife Alpha of Peggs, OK, James Dollarhide and wife Velma of Locust Grove, OK and Ronald O’Rear Jr of Tahlequah, OK, nieces, Amy Ackerman of Tahlequah, OK, Nancy O’Rear of Tahlequah, OK, Betty Swickhammer and husband Craig of Missouri, Andrea Powell of Pryor, OK, Emily Dollarhide of Pryor, OK, Julia Kilpatrick of Pryor, OK, great niece, Ellie Ackerman, great great niece, Kyra Champlain and great great nephew, Dante William Kilpatrick as well as a host of friends and loved ones.