Russell Brinkerhoff

Russell Brinkerhoff passed away peacefully at home on September 7th, 2025.

Russ was born on March 1st, 1935 in Wayne County Ohio to Reva (Foster) Brinkerhoff and Walter Brinkerhoff. When he was in elementary school, the family moved to Fredericksburg from Perrysville when Walter got a job at Fredericksburg Art Pottery. The Brinkerhoff family later had a gas station in Fredericksburg, where Russ pumped gas as a kid. He bought his first car, a black 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, and what a beauty it was. After high school graduation, Russ joined the Army for two years, working as a mechanic where he remembered heating up his tinned lunch on vehicle engines. He married his high school sweetheart Millie Swartz in 1957 after his discharge from the Army, and they had three children, a daughter and twin boys. Russ went to work for International Paper in Wooster, moving the family first to Massachusetts and then to Florida, and he had the experience of traveling all over the world servicing packaging machinery, a job he loved. When he was at home, the minute he put up the garage door to fix the family car and tinker on projects, his children and neighborhood kids gathered. He paid attention to and loved to tease kids. And they learned interesting things from him that they never forgot: the slimy blob at the bottom of a jug of vinegar is called the mother, a fascinating piece of information to a 12-year-old. He had just as much fun as the kids did; he built a go kart with a lawn mower engine, a whoopee with a hydraulic bucket lift out of an old Renault engine and some sheet metal, and a fort in the woods that he called Bongo Congo. He was a great father. After retirement, Russ and Millie relocated back to Fredericksburg where they rekindled friendships and became part of the community in many ways. Russ is predeceased by his siblings, Robert Brinkerhoff and Ellen Green, and his wife Millie.

He leaves behind his daughter Peggy, his son James and his wife Mary and sons Craig and Nathan, and his son John and his wife Amy and daughter Jessica, her husband Matt and their son great-grandchild Kai, and daughter Sarah. Throughout his life, Russ never met anybody he didn't like; he was always ready with a smile and a funny story, trying to leave people better than he found them.

Services will be Thursday, Sept. 11th at 12:00 noon at Murray Funeral Home in Fredericksburg with Pastor Jocelyn Smolik officiating. Burial will be in Sherwood Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 12:00 pm on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association/ Greater East Ohio Area Chapter, the Wayne County Dog Shelter, or the Fredericksburg Fire Association.