Eric Russell

Eric Russell, age 64, passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025 at CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. He was surrounded by his family and by love. He was born on November 8, 1960 to Melba Cornelius Russell and Frankie Joe Russell in Malvern, Arkansas. He graduated from Malvern High School in 1979 and went to work at the new Reynolds Metals Plant at Jones Mill where he worked for 39 years until his retirement.

Eric enjoyed sports and was a talented pitcher in his younger years. During his Malvern Little League pitching career Eric and his team had a record of 15 wins and 0 losses when he was on the pitcher's mound. He played baseball in the Junior and Senior Babe Ruth League. He also played football and basketball for Malvern Junior High School and basketball for the high school.

Eric was a man of few words, a true homebody who enjoyed his solitude so it was a big surprise to his family to learn that he used to DJ parties for his friends. He also loved being in the bottoms hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed squirrel camp every fall with his extended family. Oaklawn Race Track in Hot Springs was perhaps his most happy place to be. He loved the horse races and developed his own system of handicapping the races. Anyone who knew him well would often ask him for his picks whenever they ran into him at the track.

Eric was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herschel and Josie Russell, William "Bill" Cornelius, Muriel Cornelius, Gertie Cornelius. He was also preceded in death by his father, Frankie Joe Russell. He is survived by his loving mother, Melba Cornelius Russell; sister, Dawn Russell; brother, Terry Russell and sister-in-law, Catherine Collins Russell; two nephews, Britton Russell (Laiken), Brandon Russell (Cheyenne); two great nieces, Cora Russell and Rori Russell all of Malvern, Arkansas; three aunts, Marilyn Stephens of Grand Prairie, Texas, Linda Pennington (Ed) of Sherwood, Arkansas, Maxine Cornelius Hicks (Jim) of Little Flock, AR. and several special cousins.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday October 1st, at 11AM at Shadowlawn Cemetery in Malvern with Brother Mark Parsley officiating. The Russell family would like to thank Lyssa, Jill and the staff at Higginbotham's Family Clinic in Malvern. They would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at CHI ST. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs who provided such tireless and compassionate care for Eric.

Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guestbook at regencyfuneralhome.com