July 6, 1939 – April 28, 2024
Leona Marie Russell, 87, passed away Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Westview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born July 6, 1936, in Mitchell, she was the daughter of Arthur Leon and Vilena Beatrice (Chastain) Tanksley. Leona married Robert Edwin “Bob” Russell on December 26, 1970, and he preceded her in death on May 9, 2017.
Leona was a 1954 graduate of Mitchell High School. She retired from Crane-NSWC after 36 years. She also worked at WBIW for many years, hosting the “Over the Back Fence Show.” Leona was an avid reader and enjoyed game shows on TV. She loved to do puzzles, especially crosswords. Leona was very active in the Bedford First Christian Church and served as an Elder.
Surviving are her daughter, Terri Lynne Pitman (John) Stump of Warsaw; grandchildren, Misty (Tyler) Simerl, Charity (Dustin) Cordill, Marlen (Brenda Reiff) Waldridge III, and Keith Waldridge; step-grandchildren, John (Becky) Stump, Jr., Todd (Dawn) Stump, Tina (Craig) Streby, Louis Stump, and Daleen (Jeff) Mast; 28 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joann Teresi of Deerfield Beach, FL; and nephew, Kevin (Penny) Phipps.
Her parents; husband; granddaughter, Brandy Busz; step-granddaughter, Jean Hopkins; and nephew, Jeffrey Phipps, preceded her in death.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with Pastor William Brown officiating. Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. until the service on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial gifts can be made to the Bedford First Christian Church in Leona’s memory.
