Robert O

Russell Jr.

Robert O. Russell Jr., 94 of Prescott, passed away peacefully, Monday, January 1, 2018 at Hillcrest Care & Rehab Center in Prescott, Arkansas.

Robert was born in Cabot, Arkansas on July 21, 1923 to Robert Otho and Willie Mae Sullivan Russell. He grew up in the Oak Grove Community and graduated from North Little Rock High School. After graduating from high school, he volunteered to be a U.S. Marine in World War II at age 19. He served four years enduring the terrible battle on Iwo Jima. He served with the 5th Marine Division, 27th unit in the third wave attack. His service was always very important to him and he was always very patriotic.

After the war Robert met Inez Hurst and they married July 26, 1946. They were devoted to each other and their family for 66 years, until her passing in 2013. Two children, Cathy and T. Michael were born to them. He attended college in California as a married adult after World War II. He and Inez worked on improving their education for several years.

They moved to California in 1952 where Robert became a civil engineer and was a member of the Operating Engineer Union for 65 years.

Robert was a wonderful, caring, intelligent father, brother and grandfather. He was a very talented home improvement person. Robert was a perfectionist and could fix nearly anything.

Robert and Inez were children of the depression who started out poor and worked all their lives to improve themselves and their family. Their family has always enjoyed a close relationship and he will be greatly missed as a father and grandfather that his family could depend upon.

Robert was a Christian who believed strongly in the Bible and would always say he "dealt direct" with the Lord.

Robert and Inez loved going dancing for many years with friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Inez Russell; one son, T. Michael Russell; one sister, Martha Tenney.

He is survived by his daughter, Cathy Andrews and husband Robert of Prescott, AR; sister, Bernice Thatcher of St. Louis, Mo; grandchildren Todd Harvey and wife Misti of Conway, AR, Kelly Fountain and husband Miles of Prescott, AR, Joshua Russell of Seattle, WA, Ryan Harvey and wife Tina of Prescott, AR, Cody Russell of Seaside, CA and eight great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 1:00pm Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home Prescott. Funeral service will follow at 2:00pm in the Chapel. Interment will be at Laneburg Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Westmoreland officiating under the direction of Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home Prescott, Arkansas.