Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Russell

Rebecca "Becky" Lynn Russell, 83, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 23, with her family by her side. The daughter of the late J. Herbert and Mary M. (Marquette) Thompson, Becky grew up in Calcutta attending Calcutta School, East Junior High, and was very proud to tell everyone that she was in the FIRST graduating class of Beaver Local, the class of 1959.
In 1960, she married the love of her life, James H. Russell. They lived in Wellsville for the first 20 years of their 62-year marriage. Becky was a member of The Wellsville Firemen's Ladies' Auxiliary, The Friendship Eight card club, which she continued to be a part of, and in later years joined the "Country" card club. In 1980, Becky and Jim moved back to Calcutta not far from her childhood home.
Throughout the years, Becky worked in her family owned businesses. She started by making popsicles at Vernon Dell Dairy, where she was also a secretary. She worked alongside Jim as owner/manager of Russell's Mini Marts. She also was a server at Adrian's Banquet Center, as well as serving breakfast for Calcutta Rotary for many years at Adrian's. The job she loved the most was her role as Gram to her 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Becky was a lifelong member of Calcutta United Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, a trustee, an elder, and the treasurer and was a member of the choir and Women's Missionary Association. In recent years, she attended Northside Church.
Becky spent many years bowling in the Christian Women's League. She was a charter member of TOPS 1341. She also enjoyed, at one time, knitting afghans for her family and friends.
Becky was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in 2022; her parents, Herb and Mary, her stepmothers, Virginia and Jacqueline Thompson, parents-in-law, Ral and Mary Russell, and nephew Brian Russell.
She is survived by her daughters: Mary Virginia "Ginny" (Scott) Chamberlain and Betsy Lynn (Andy) Kithas, and her son, Rodney James (Melissa) Russell; as well as grandchildren: Brittany Russell Miller (Tim Walsh), Rachel Chamberlain (Toby) Mattern, Ashley Russell (RJ) Smith, Lauren Kithas, Matthew Chamberlain (Bianca Brown), Jimmy Russell, and Tyler Kithas (Tricia Panos); and great-grandchildren: Landon and Easton Miller, Whitnee Jones, and Brandon and Kali Smith; Becky's siblings: Dorothy "Dottie " Pike, Jerry (Freda) Thompson and Candy (Mike) Solterbeck, and brother-in-law, Jerry (Helen) Russell; and her nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly; and her special friends Soni and Jamie Livolsi and Denny Miller.
The family would like to thank the Heritage Valley of Beaver Interventional Radiology team and Buckeye Hospice and Palliative Care for their loving care.
Visitation will be held at The Martin Chapel of Care Funeral & Cremation Specialists in Calcutta on Sunday, April 28 from 12:00-6:00 and one hour prior to the service celebrating Becky's life on Monday, April 29 at 11:00 with Pastor Larry Rose of Northside Church officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Calcutta Cemetery Betsy Kithas 15902 Highland Drive East Liverpool, OH 43920