Ben H. Russell

Ben H. Russell Ben H. Russell, age 93 of Temple, died Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the William R. Courtney State Veterans Home. Graveside services will be held at 1:00pm Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Bellwood Memorial Park with Rev. Thom Lamb officiating. Mr. Russell was born on March 25, 1923 in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Guy and Rose Russell. He attended schools in Memphis. Ben enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940 and served in WWII at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Phoenix. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Ben married Elva Conrad in 1946 in Philadelphia and she preceded him in death on July 28, 2001. They lived in Pennsylvania for many years before moving to Temple in the 1980’s. Ben retired as a dispatcher from the Reading Railroad. After retirement, he was active in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, the USS Phoenix Association and volunteered many hours with Meals on Wheels.  Ben was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was a Shriner. He was also a member of Grace Presbyterian Church. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and two sisters. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara King of Temple; a son, Guy Russell of Denver, Colorado; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Memorials may be given in Mr. Russell’s name to Grace Presbyterian Church or to Meals on Wheels.The family will receive visitors from 5-7:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. Scanio-Harper Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.