Richard Harvey “Russ” Russell, age 82, Joplin, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Freeman West after a sudden illness.

Richard was born July 31,1940 in Joplin, son of the late James F. Russell and Virginia L (Boyes) Ricci. He grew up in Joplin and graduated from Joplin High School where he enjoyed being in the band as a trumpet player, and then attended Joplin Junior College.

He worked for Empire Electric for 32 years before retiring as Manager of Customer Service. He is a former Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging, Business Development Agent with the Great American Title Company, and worked for years at Parker Mortuary. Richard also served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for 30 years.

He was active in public service holding positions including Mayor of Joplin, Joplin Fire and Police Pension Board, Joplin Airport Board, Missouri Municipal League of Cities.

Richard also served in a variety of community service roles including the President of the Joplin Sertoma Club, Joplin Credit Bureau Board, Missouri State Credit Association, Joplin Credit Association, and Missouri Alliance of Area Agencies on Aging. He was on the Board of Directors for the Joplin Metro Credit Union, American Red Cross, Sisters of Mercy Housing Board, and president and founding member of the Empire District Retirees Association, the Empire District Museum which is now in the Joplin Museum, and founder of the Empire District over 60 Olympics.

He was an active member of the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Club, the Joplin Shrine Club where he was a trumpet player for the Dead-Beat Dixieland Band, and the Scottish Rite Temple, Naval Reserve Association, Naval Radioman Association, American Legion Post #13, and Post 13 Drum and Bugle Corp. He was honored to play taps for hundreds of funerals over the years and provide Christmas for seniors without families. He was a member, former Sunday School Teacher, and Elder of Central City Christian Church.

He will be missed by many, and especially his family whom he cherished spending time with during the holidays and playing his practical jokes on the grandkids.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 62 years, Eileen (Mahoney) Russell; children, Dwane Russell and wife Marie of Shawnee, Kansas, Rene’ M Snyder and husband Rusty of Joplin, and Brian J. Russell of Springfield, Missouri; grandchildren, Chealsey Russell of Springfield, Skyler Russell and wife Megan of Jacksonville, Florida, Colbie R. Snyder and wife Whitney of Pittsburg, Kansas, Ryun Snyder and wife Abbey of Neosho, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Stella Snyder of Pittsburg, Dawson and Daisy Snyder of Neosho.

Funeral services will be Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in Central City Christian Church with Matt Proctor and Jared Kouba officiating. Interment will follow in Osborne Memorial Cemetery with full Military Honors.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the King’s Kid program at Central City Christian Church or the American Legion Post #13.