Richard Wayne Russell
Richard Wayne Russell of League City, Texas, passed away on February 12, 2020. He was born in Guymon, Oklahoma to Glenn and Allene Russell on February 13, 1953. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He met his wife Gayle, while on a double date- with someone else. They married on August 2, 1981 and began a decade long spree of traveling to new and exciting places for Rick’s work, beginning in Bermuda and ending in Houston, Texas. There he started his own accounting firm and later sold the successful practice. Recently retired, Rick loved the outdoors and pursued hobbies that allowed him to explore that interest including hiking, kayaking, yoga and photography.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
He is survived by his four kids- Shaun, Kim, Craig, and Chris and five grandchildren whom he loved deeply. He is also survived by his older brother, Lance Russell.
His Memorial Service will be held on February 22nd at 10am at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main, League City, Texas 77573.
You will be missed Richard. Love and condolences to your family.
My prayers are with Richard’s family that he was so proud of! He would talk non stop about you. I will miss my friend more than words can say. Fly with the Angel’s Richard and know you are missed.
You will be missed & your family will always be in my prayers & i am always here for Shaun i love him with every fiber & ounce of my being.
I loved being proud grandparents together at all the baseball games and other events. We would sit there and admire how wonderful the grandkids were. You did so many interesting things that I would love to do. I’m sure that spirit of adventure will be passed along to your grandchildren. I‘ll miss you Richard.
Rest In Peace Richard. God bless your family.
Uncle Rick,
I grew up listening to stories of you and my father running wild and crazy through California. You and your brother (my father) had such amazing stories of grand adventures and interesting characters, your reminiscing together always made me laugh. You both love Dylan. I hated Bob growing up and; like your kids, I teased my dad with his whiny voice impersonations and snide comments about the harmonica. I appreciate his poetry now – you guys were right, his lyrics transcends the ages.
It seems to me, by watching from afar, that your life was divided into distinct chapters. Your favorite pages filled with the love of your life, Gayle, and the start of your large family. You shined brightest when you were surrounded by your wife and your children. You truly thrived when you and Gayle were taking the world by storm. Your trips to Hawaii, your great adventures in Costa Rica. You were sick in the hospital in Houston on your return with malaria!
When Gayle passed you called to my house. You spoke to me like an adult and broke the news to me first. I was barely a teenager and we shared your grief, me as an adult, alongside my mom and dad. It was such a sudden, unexpected, abrupt end – but you had no time to grieve. I would have been decommissioned for years, slowly rebuilding piece by piece. You had four children and a huge hole in your heart. An identity shattered. Your strength, persistence and adoration for your children got you through some of the most difficult challenges anyone could ever face. A single father raising four of the smartest and well-adjusted people in our family. You did it alone, without a manual or instructions, giving everything you could to your children. You were human, totally fallible, and you struggled through every hardship and every hurdle the best you could. I know that you spoke to Gayle, after the day was over, the struggles of the day put to rest for a few hours. Did she ever speak back? Did she give you comfort and guidance? Did she help balance the heavy load you carried? It was never easy and it took its toll. Your family was always your greatest joy, your hardest challenge, and your biggest heartache.
I’m so glad I was able to get to know you in recent months as you entered the final chapter. You faced so many new challenges: An empty home, retirement, redefining your purpose and trying to find your place in this world. I know I was your friend as well as your niece. You were tickled by my photos from goat yoga. You were right, by the way, goats and yoga are a terrible combination. We were going to travel. We had a fishing trip on the horizon and the train in New Mexico. I will think of you from these places.
I wish I could tell you how much I admire you. Your adventures, your strength, your struggles. I respect you so much. You are loved. For everything that you are, for everything you wanted and dreamed of, for all of your regrets and mistakes. Thank you, Uncle Rick.