He was the youngest child of nine born to a sharecropper farmer, Joshua and Cassie (Braddy) Sasnett of Washington NC, living in 14 different homes during his early school years. With all his responsibilities at home, there was never time to be involved in athletics. Always industrious, at the age of 16 he became a school bus driver, to earn extra money for treats like going to the movies. He was well-liked in high school, elected president of his senior class. After graduation, as World War II continued, he volunteered for induction in the Navy, serving the last 1½ years of the war.
The GI Bill paid for his college education, the first in his family, at NC State University in Raleigh, NC. He excelled in his studies, always at the top of his class in Electrical Engineering. He was president of Eta Kappa Nu, an electrical engineering honor society. He was also a member of Theta Tau, an engineering fraternity, and was elected into the Blue Key Honor Society for high grades.
During his last two years at NC State, he met Julia Dixon on a blind date. They fell in love and got engaged, with a wedding planned for July 8, 1950 if Russell could get a job by then. There was little hope of employment for new graduates that year because of the economy, but when General Electric came to the campus to interview for positions, Russell received a coveted job offer. So the wedding plans proceeded, and he married the love of his life at Carr Methodist Church in Durham, NC.
Russell’s path to becoming an innovative engineer began in GE’s Engineering Test Program, a one-year assignment to work for three months at different manufacturing sites to become familiar with their businesses. At the end of that year, he was assigned to the Home Laundry Department in Louisville, KY. He started out as an Engineer, working his way up to Manager of Dryer & Washer-Dryer Engineering. He earned 13 patents along the way, with his discoveries making possible several home appliances we all enjoy today, including key components of dishwashers, ice-makers, and clothes dryers.
In mid-career, GE sent Russell abroad to many different countries for 6 weeks at a time to assist at their plants. Soon he was made Manager of Engineering in an experimental joint venture with Cognel in Milan, Italy, where the family lived for a year and enjoyed the opportunity to explore Europe. Upon Russell’s return to Louisville, KY, he became Manager of a new business-creation division called New Ventures Development. In this role he launched a startup company called Kitchen Systems in Orlando, FL, based on one of his patents for a complete modular kitchen. In the middle of the 1970s energy crisis, GE appointed him Manager of Appliance Energy Regulations, in which capacity he worked with state and federal lawmakers to establish new energy efficiency requirements. Russell was proud to have worked for the same company for 36 years in so many different roles. At his retirement party, a GE Vice President said, “Russell is the best engineer I’ve ever known” – a compliment he treasured greatly.
After retirement, Russell and Julia split their time between Louisville and their second home on Fripp Island, SC. He loved saltwater fishing and hosting family vacations there, where he taught all three grandchildren how to swim and fish. Russell and Julia also took several long trips to Europe, staying for a month at a time as part of a home exchange program. Eventually they moved to a new home they built on Mountain Island Lake in Charlotte, NC so they could be closer to family. He loved the view of the water from their home and dock, and enjoyed spending time on his pontoon boat.
Family was always very important to him. He spent several years researching the Sasnett family genealogy, and self-published a book at age 88 written with his daughter Nancy that summed up all of his research. The book was distributed to his entire family, and will be valued by generations to follow.
Russell is predeceased by his parents Joshua and Cassie, and his eight older brothers and sisters, all of Washington, NC: Bonnie, Jessie, Warren, Addie, Wenona, Helen, Mayhew, and Lillian.
He is survived by his wife, Julia (Dixon) Sasnett, their daughter, Nancy (Sasnett) Laurene and her husband, Arne T. Laurene of Pisgah Forest, NC, and their son, Russell M. Sasnett, Jr. and his wife, Rosalyn Gerstein of Providence, RI. Other survivors include grandchildren Laura (Laurene) Chancey and her husband, Mark Chancey of Solsberry, IN; Lisa (Laurene) Roth and her husband, Ryan Roth of Apex, NC, and Peri Sasnett of Jackson, WY. His great-grandchildren are Corwin Chancey, Kayla Chancey, Kara Roth, and Lukas Roth. He is also survived by extended family in Washington NC, including Janet Sasnett and her three children: Bonita (Sasnett) Arvizu, Leigh (Sasnett) Tetterton, and Paul Sasnett.
Russell was sustained by his abiding love for Julia, his family, and his faith. He will be greatly missed by all.
A Graveside Service for Russell is scheduled for Friday, March 5, 2021 at 2 p.m. in the cemetery of Cook’s Memorial Presbyterian Church, 3413 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd., Charlotte, NC.
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