Ellen Elizabeth Russell

Ellen Elizabeth (Ash) RUSSELL July 21, 1918 - May 17, 2003 Ellen Russell, 84, of Mill Creek, WA., passed unexpectedly from this life in the early hours of Saturday, May 17, at home, of heart failure.Ellen was born in Montborne, WA. in 1918 to Charles and Gertrude Ash. The third of eight children, she grew up at home at Big Lake. She attended Sedro-Woolley High School, Western Washington College and University of Washington. At age 20 she traveled alone to Kunming, China to help a missionary family. When the Japanese Army threatened to overrun the region in 1940, Ellen returned to Washington. It was on June 12, 1939 that she first met her future husband on that "slow boat" to China. Ronald was returning to his family home in Japan from a trip to England. Ronald and Ellen were married in Mount Vernon, WA. on Christmas Day, 1940. Ellen was a member of Olympic View Community Church in North Seattle for 55 years, serving alongside lifetime friends. Ronald and Ellen started their own successful business in 1948 and retired in 1986. They spent many winters in Kihei-Wallea, Maui and more recently in Sun City West, AZ. Ellen is survived by her husband Ronald, their three children and their spouses, Keith and Sandra Russell of Stanwood, Dennis and Janine Russell of Edmonds and Kathleen and Larry Wall of Seattle; grandchildren John and Ronda Russell, Kendra and Tom Twigg, Brenda and Gary Krantz, Charles Russell and Stephanie and Chris Booth; and seven great grandchildren, Angelina and Alexander Arevalo, Samantha Goodman, Elizabeth and Olivia Russell, Keith Krantz and Rowan Twigg; Also surviving are her brother, Keith and Jeannie Ash of Mount Vernon, her sister Nancy and Robert Wendlandt of Edmonds and many nieces and nephews. Memorial Services Celebrating Ellen's amazing life will be held Sunday, May 25th at 2 p.m. at Olympic View Community Church, 425 N.E. 95th St., Seattle, WA. 98115. (206) 525-6900. Arrangements are under the direction of Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen's memory can be made to the North Haven Foundation, 11045 8th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA. 98125.