Alfred Russell - Obituary

lfred Perry "A.P." Russell Jr., 84, of Sparks, Nev., died of cancer Aug. 19 at the home of his daughter, Rose Lee (William) Russell Blucher of Edgewater, after a six-month illness. Born July 25, 1923, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., and the son of the late Alfred and Mary Russell Sr., Mr. Russell graduated from high school as well as Merchant Marine officer training and engineering schools. He served in the Merchant Marine and the Coast Guard during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. During that time, he traveled throughout the world and invented the smokeless smoke stack which is still in use today. At one point in his career, he was lead engineer of a design team at General Electric and the owner of several businesses, which included restaurants, fishing establishments and stores such as J.C. Webster's General Store in Solomons. He was a member of the American Legion and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association. He was of the Baptist faith as well, but embraced all religions, his family said. His interests included horse racing, dealing in antiques, travel and helping churches and disabled persons with food and transportation. His neighbors called him "The Good Samaritan of Reno." In February 1952 he married Pearl Annette Russell. They were divorced in 1965 and she died in October 1990. He was the widower of Julia E. Russell who passed away in 2002. In addition to his daughter, surviving are one son, Allan B. (Stacey) Russell of Potomac; one stepson, Mark W. McGuire of Sparks; three stepdaughters, Marlene McGuire of Washington state, Velma (John) Edwards of Sparks and Annette L. Shaw of Missouri; one sister, Betty Lee Mathes Till of Sumner, Wash.; and his three grandchildren Alexander Steven Blucher, Jared David Kaplan Russell and Haley Jo-Ann Penny Russell. He was the beloved uncle of Perry, Ronald, Marguerite and Mary Mathes. Funeral services and burial are private. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401. or online at http://www.hospicechesapeake.org