Lee Champ Russell Jr.

LEE CHAMP RUSSELL, JR. passed away on February 22, 2005. He was born on October 9, 1925 in Warren, Arkansas to Lee Champ Russell and Alice Evelyn (Desmarias) Russell. Mr. Russell grew up in Louisiana, attended Louisiana State University, and enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. He served on the USS Maryland BB-46 receiving a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a kamikaze attack upon the battleship. Following his Navy service, Mr. Russell entered the insurance business and subsequently moved to Houston in the early 1950's. He founded the Lee Russell Insurance Agency and the Regency Insurance Agency, serving his clients for over 50 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gloria Russell, the mother of their children, and his second wife of 30 years, Ruby Russell. He is survived by his children, Alice Evelyn Russell, Lee Champ Russell III, Gurukarta Khalsa, and Steven Douglas Russell; grandchildren, Kartapurkh Khalsa, Randi Russell, and Lee Champ Russell IV; brother, Robert Russell; sisters, Billie Gruzynski and Emily Ann Winberry; respective families; and his special friend and companion, Shirley Bailey. A visitation will be held from 6 until 8 PM on Monday, February 28, 2005 at The Settegast-Kopf Co. Funeral Directors, 3320 Kirby Drive. Friends are also invited to visit with the family beginning at 8 AM on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 at Memorial Lutheran Church, 5800 Westheimer Road. A funeral service will follow at 10 AM with Rev. J. Bart Day officiating. Entombment will follow in Memorial Oaks Mausoleum.