Richard Denny Russ

Richard Denny Russ (Papa) was larger than life. He died peacefully on September 6, 2016 surrounded by Laura, the love of his life, and his children.

He grew up in Picayune, Mississippi, and graduated from Picayune High School in 1952. Richard was always an athlete, played high school football and won the Golden Gloves Championship title in Jackson, Mississippi. He served his country proudly in the US Navy as a Medical Corpsman during the Korean conflict and was honorably discharged as a Personnel Seaman. Upon his return, he attended Baylor University, where he played football as a linebacker for the Baylor Bears. He graduated in 1960, with a BS in Education and then coached high school football in the San Antonio Independent School District. Richard was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge for many years.

His broad professional experience reflected his many talents and interests. Early in his career, in Picayune, he led the effort to recruit and staff the stand-up of the NASA Space Center. He continued a successful career in personnel and management consulting and owned several businesses, where he made many friends and colleagues all over the country. A particular highlight of his professional life was as a federal civil service employee for the Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC.

Richard retired from civil service but never stopped learning, living, and contributing to the world, both personally and professionally. A voracious reader, Richard would read books of any genre. Of special interest, was military history; and he was a subject matter expert on American military history. Always physically active, he worked for the Kingwood YMCA in support of the exercise and weight training program. An avid golfer, he also worked as a Golf Marshall at Deerwood Country Club. For leisure, he loved to hunt deer with his son and nephews, in Brady, TX and fish Caddo Lake and Rockport, TX bays. An educator at heart, he was a special needs teacher and also worked as a substitute teacher for Humble Independent School District. A world traveler, he and his beloved wife, Laura, just recently took a cruise and toured the Mediterranean.

Richard is preceded in death by his father, Walter Denny Russ; mother, Edna Stockstill Russ and brother, Samuel Thomas Russ.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Laura, and his children, Richard Denny Russ Jr., Cindy Russ Tippie, Sharon Christine Mcloughlin-Michalec, and Donna Ellen Finch. He was the best "Papa" to his grandchildren: Bridget McLoughlin, Denny Russ, Lindsay Russ, Laura Finch, and Rachael Finch.

He will be missed by his sisters and brother: Emily Russ Patch, Julia Russ Sullivan of Kingwood, and E. Jack Russ of Oxford, Mississippi. He was the favorite "Uncle Rich" and "Cousin Rich" to his extended family that enjoyed his spirit and love of life.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, September 17, 2016, at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, TX. Visitation is 1:30 - 3:00 PM, with a memorial service immediately following. Interment will be at Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt appreciation to the doctors and nurses at Houston Northwest Medical Center for their compassionate medical care.