Obituary of Edward Joseph Russell

Edward Joseph Russell Jr. (Ed) passed away September 27, 2014. Ed was born August 7, 1932 to the late Veronica R. (Fischer) and Edwin J. Russell in Los Angeles, Calif. He attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a BS degree in Business Finance. He joined the United States Air Force as a Captain and served as a Finance Officer. He made his home in Orange County, where he raised his 8 wonderful children and opened his Life Insurance Brokerage Agency, Russell and Associates in 1975. In 1981 he married his loving wife, Marilynne Russell. Together they moved to Corona, California where they blended their family of 11 children. Ed and Marilynne worked together in the Insurance Industry and spent many weekends with the family in tow, camping and skiing in Lake Havasu, Az. Ed and Marilynne were able to travel to many countries and enjoy many adventures. In 2000, they retired to Lake Havasu, Arizona where Ed enjoyed working on his classic cars and watching college football. Ed was a loving, gentle, kind, and wonderful man to his wife Marilynne and his 11 children, 34 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, also a kind, loving master to his faithful dog, Jake. Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Rosemary Burke. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marilynne Russell; daughters, Kathy Matthews, Karen Thunell, Christine Silburn, Diane Cunningham, Cindy Burke and Sharon Scott; sons, Michael Russell and Daniel Russell; stepdaughters, Kelly Yates and Lisa Graham and stepson, Robert Williams. He was loved very much and will be sorely missed, but knowing that he is in a loving place brings happiness and peace to us all. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Lake Havasu or the American Cancer Society. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to Ed's family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com