Walter Everett Russell

Walter (“Walt”) Russell passed away on October 15, 2023 at the age of 96. He was surrounded by loved ones.

Walt graduated from Maricopa High School in California. He received an A.A. degree from Taft J.C. and a master’s degree in special education from Fresno State. Amongst his education, Walt served in the US Army for 6 months in Japan following WWII. 

Walt married his wife, Joan Rhea Raub on June 13, 1948 in Maricopa, California. They were married by Joan’s grandfather, the Reverend David Martin. Walt and Joan celebrated 75 years together this past June. 

Walt spent 30 years of his life teaching 5th grade in Lemore, California and Special Education in Kings County, California. He and Joan also owned and operated three laundromats in California. 

He has been in the Lions Club for over 65 years and was a Past Lions District Governor in California in 1995 and 1996. He helped to get the Peace Poster Contest organized in California with the Hanford Breakfast Lions Club and was the organizer and Chairman in California and the Frederick Lions Club. 

Walt has been a Mason in both California and the Frederick area and is a member of SAR.

Walt and Joan enjoyed visiting all 50 states throughout their time together and traveled internationally to Canada, Mexico, many of the Caribbean Islands, Panama, England, Ireland, France, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Walt enjoyed researching genealogy, collecting stamps and coins, playing cribbage and pinochle with friends, watching NASCAR, and doing jigsaw puzzles. He also cherished time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. 

Walt is predeceased by parents, Ralph Carr Russell and Violet Alice Harman Russell; brother, Ralph; sister, Mary; and son, Gary. He is survived by his wife, Joan; son, Steven (Marilyn) Russell; daughter-in-law, Cathy (Tom) Russell Mitchell; grandchildren Holliann (James) Russell Kim, Timothy (Zoe) Russell, Angela (Veeshal) Russell Modi, Rebecca Mitchell, and Michael (Miranda) Mitchell; and great grandchildren Colby and Calla Kim, and Milo and Dev Modi. 

A Celebration of Life service for Walt will be held at the New Market United Methodist Church in New Market, Maryland at 2pm on Sunday, October 22nd. The service will be live streamed at www.newmarketUMC.com. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to New Market United Methodist Church, Homewood at Frederick Foundation, or the Frederick Lions Club.