Russell W. Shields

Russell W. Shields After a long period of declining health, Russell W. Shields, 90, died in hospice on November 10th, 2012 from pulmonary fibrosis. Husband of Betty, father of Larry and Ronny, Pop-Pop to Scotty, Molly, Danny and Megan, Russell was born September 8th 1922 in Ardmore PA to the late Frank and Marie (nee Pelikan) Shields. At age 2, Russell's family moved to Gladwyne where his father was established as a blacksmith and farrier. He attended the Gladwyne School (now the Montessori School), Ardmore Jr High and Lower Merion Sr High Schools and upon graduation found work in the now abandoned Barker's Mill on the banks of Mill Creek where he met his future wife, Betty. When war intervened, Russell enlisted in the Army Air Corps. While in the service, he attended Davidson College in South Carolina, and at war's end was training as a flight engineer for the recently developed B-29 bomber. After the war, Russ and Betty married, residing for a time in Havertown with their two sons before returning to Gladwyne for good. Most of his working life was spent as a precision finish machinist for Midvale-Heppenstall Steel in Philadelphia's Nicetown section. After Midvale's closure, Russell finished his working years as a member of Ronald and Marcia Rubin's household staff in Penn Valley, retiring in 1994. As a lifelong Gladwyne resident, Russell considered himself one of the few remaining true "old timers"; a pre-war, blue collar native comfortable in his surroundings before residential development swept in and forever changed the social landscape of his hometown. An avid hunter and fisherman in his youth, Russ was a friend to all animals and they tended to bring out the best in him. He would often speak fondly of his favorite childhood cat, "Joe", and later the much beloved Shields family dog; "Toby". Preceded in death by sisters Frances Graham and Louise Gross, Russell is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years; Elizabeth (nee Murphy), his sons Lawrence (Amy) of Lancaster, and Ronald (Patty) of King of Prussia, and grandchildren Scott and Molly of Lancaster, and Daniel and Megan of King of Prussia. The family will receive guests at 11:00 AM - 12 noon Friday November 16, 2012 at the Stuard Funeral Home, 104 Cricket Ave., Ardmore PA. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Russell's memory to Autism Speaks, www.autismspeaks.org.