William (Bill) Arthur Russell's Obituary
May 17, 1936 – May 23, 2022
Bill was born in Rockford, IL, to Charles and Verna May (Loving) Russell. He was raised and educated in St James Catholic School with his brothers Jack and Mike. In 1953 the family moved to St Petersburg, FL. He met the love of his life, Barbara Roach, during their senior year at St Paul’s Catholic High School. They married June 8, 1957 and moved to Gainesville where they attended St Patrick’s Catholic Church. They raised three children in the church.
Bill had many accomplishments throughout his life. He received Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Computers at UF, was a member of MENSA, Square Danced, sang in the Barbergators Chorus and several quartets, planned family camping vacations to the beach, the Smokey Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. After the children moved out Bill and Barbara continued traveling and camping, mostly in the northern US and parts of Canada. They began cruising with their friends Dave and Marie, visiting Alaska, Ireland, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Greece, the Baltic Sea countries and around Cape Horn.
Bill is survived by his wife, Barbara, and children Kathleen (Dan) Coon, Timothy Russell, Aileen (Jeff) Lathe, three wonderful grandchildren: Charlotte and Daniel Coon and Andrew Lathe and many other family members. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers and his grandson, Jeremy Russell Lathe.
We are thankful to the staff, doctors and nurses of Haven Hospice for the gentle and loving care they provided to Bill and his family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held June 4, 10:00 AM, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Gainesville, FL. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St Vincent de Paul Society or Haven Hospice.
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