Russell Gatlin

He was born in Dallas, Texas, on December 10, 1944, to Margaret and Russell Gatlin. He later moved with his mother and younger brother Donnie to Sarasota, Florida.

Russ was an incredible athlete and a diehard Mississippi State fan. He attended Mississippi State University on a baseball scholarship and played as a Bulldog on two SEC Championship teams in 1964 and 1965. In 1964, Russ led the team with 20 RBI’s and a batting average of .348. During baseball’s offseason, you would be hard-pressed not to find Russ at Davis Wade Stadium for every home football game. Russ was a member of the M Club and was actively involved in the Mississippi State Alumni Association for many years.

Russ joined the Mississippi Air National Guard 172nd Airlift Wing after college. He was assigned to Mather Air Force Base in California to undergo Air Force Navigator training. After training, Russ returned to Mississippi to fly the C-124 Globemaster and later both of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft models. Russ progressed to Commander of the maintenance squadron and promoted to full Colonel at the Federal level, while obtaining the honorary state rank of Brigadier General.

Russ married Ann Edwards on June 13, 1968, and together they raised their two children, Ashley and Lindsey, in Jackson, MS. Of all his life’s accomplishments, he was proudest of his girls. Russ instilled his love of MSU by carrying her with him to many sports events in Starkville and was always her greatest protector. He never missed a single one of Lindsey’s horse shows. He was honored that both daughters graduated from MSU with degrees in accounting as he had.

Russ loved all creatures great and small. All who knew him knew that he had a son with four legs, a mane, and a tail with the given show name of Plum’Leur. In his lifetime, Russ and Leur walked at least 100,000 miles together. Leur was Russ’s pride and joy, his favorite child, and he loved to show him off at every horse show. Russ also loved his dogs with his whole heart.

In addition to his love for family, country, and animals, Russ was fiercely loyal to his friends. He lived life large and to the fullest, with the wild stories to prove it. Whether he was surviving thunderstorms in Puerto Rico or scooping up roadkill for opossum soup, he put his friends first – for a taste-test if nothing else.

Russ is survived by his wife, Ann Edwards Gatlin; daughters, Ashley Sanders and Lindsey Ross (Ben); grandchildren, Anna Sanders, Gatlin Sanders, Lillian Ross, and Cormac Ross; siblings Donnie Gatlin, Betty Gaines, Peggy Stitzenburg, and Joan Wade. He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret and Russell Gatlin, and his equine son Leur.

Funeral services will be held at Parkway Funeral Home on March 20, 2021, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a graveside service immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Masks strongly encouraged. In remembrance of Russ, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to The Bulldog Club, Post Office Box BT, Mississippi State, MS 39762.