Willie Dale Russell's Obituary
W. Dale Russell passed away on Monday, November 3rd, 2025 at his residence. He sadly lost a long standing battle with mental illness and took his own life at the age of 70.
Dale was born on March 11th, 1955 in Jacksonville Florida to Willie Russell and Hilda Russell (Daniel).
He moved to Gainesville in his early childhood. Went on to attend Eastside High School where he played football, track and field, weight lifting, and wrestling, graduating in 1973. He received a full ride scholarship to the University of Oklahoma to play football where he attended some college but came home due to an injury.
Once he came back to Gainesville and started working at Farmers Mutual Exchange delivering liquid feed and changing tires. Then moved on to work at B&J Tire, Gainesville Tire, and eventually went out on his own and started Dale’s Tire, Inc which he owned and operated for almost 47 years. He was a well loved figure in the community. He loved his career and the friends, turned best buddies he made through the business over the years.
Dale was like no other. He did not know a stranger. Everyone he met had a story about how he made them laugh until they cried because of his sense of humor. He was a prankster, had an infectious smile, and was so gregarious. He didn’t care what others thought of him, he was exactly who he wanted to be. He had a saying for everything and his antics were unmatched, his loved ones referred to them as Daleisms. He loved being outdoors. He spent most of his time hunting and fishing in Rochelle, FL. Although turkey hunting was his favorite; and of course slingin tires and watching westerns. He enjoyed riding his little red Kawasaki mule around his property making sure not a single tree branch or piece of moss was on the ground. He kept an extremely tidy and neat homestead.
He loved his daughter & grand daughter so very much. If you knew Dale you knew he always referred to his daughter as “Baby Jane, his youngin”
He is survived by his only child Amanda Deen (Russell) son by marriage Tim Deen, and his grand daughter Mackenzie, and sister Karon Drost.
He is preceded by his parents, Willie and Hilda Russell, his two brothers, David and Gary Russell.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025 from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Whitehurst Ranch & Lodge: Whitehurst Ranch Rd, Archer, FL 32618. Dale's memorial service will begin at 4:00 p.m.
Please wear cheerful, happy colors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org.
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