Russell Eldridge Royal Jr.

Russell Eldridge Royal, Jr., 95, of Ellicott City, died Friday, November 21, 2025, at Lorien Encore in Ellicott City. Born January 7, 1930, in Richmond, Virginia, he was the son of the late Russell E. Royal, Sr. and the late Lucy Spence Royal. Russell had worked as a court reporter and was a sergeant in the Army. He enjoyed activities with his grandsons, history, reading, listening to big band music, and travel videos. He was a dedicated Notre Dame football fan and never missed listening to or watching a game. Russell is survived by daughters Gaylea Casagrande and her partner Joseph Malone, Jr., Carol Smith and her husband Christian, grandsons Brian Smith and Daniel Smith and his wife Abigail. He was preceded in death by son-in-law William Casagrande, Jr. Graveside services with military honors will be held Friday, December 19, 2025, 11:00 AM at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, 200 E. Padonia Road, Timonium, Maryland. Sympathies may be expressed in the form of contributions to Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org/. Online condolences may be made to www.jnzumbrunfuneralhome.com