Russell G. Smith

Russell G. Smith, age 94, of Grants Pass, died Friday, January 10, 2014 at Heritage House Residential Senior Care.

Private interment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to the Gospel Rescue Mission, PO Box 190, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528 or Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

Russell was born October 10, 1919 in Kokomo, Indiana to Grant & Clytus (Turner) Smith. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a sergeant in the message center at Fort Richardson Alaska. In April 1950 he married Mavis 'Mary' Smith. He helped run the family owned gas station and restaurant on Whittier Blvd, Whittier, CA. In 1952 he moved from Whittier, California to Grants Pass. He worked many years at several plywood mills and retired from Southern Oregon Plywood when it closed.

Russell was a long time member of River Valley Community Church and was active in the Challenger Sunday School Class. He volunteered at Highland House Rehabilitation Center visiting the sick and visiting the homes of shut-ins.

In his leisure time he enjoyed reading, bowling, camping, fishing, traveling and spending time with family and friends. For 14 years he traveled with his snowbird friends spending his winters in Arizonia.

Survivors include a daughter, Lorrie Snyder and husband Toby of Grants Pass, Oregon; two sons, Bruce Smith and wife Lyla of Battle Ground, Washington and Jerry Smith and Stephanie of Grants Pass; five granddaughters, Cynthia Tauscher, Camilla Albrecht, Tawny Barber, Sara Nastri and Katie Smith; and nine great-grandchildren, Brittany Barber, Mikayla Barber, Makenna Nastri, Kayla Smith, Sydney Smith, David Tauscher, MichaelTauscher, Solomon Albrecht, and Henri Albrecht.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mavis 'Mary' Smith in May 2006 and an infant daughter, Cheryl.