Kenneth L. Russ

Major Kenneth L. Russ, U. S. Army/retired, died at the Memorial Hospital at Easton, MD on Friday, April 20, 2001. He was 80. Born in Easton, MD, July 27, 1920, he was the son of the late Clarence and Beulah Cheezum Russ. After attending public school, he served in the Maryland National Guard. At the outbreak of World War 11, he was federalized into the U.S. Army where he earned his General Education Diploma and later attended the University of Hawaii and Chesapeake College. He served in the European Theatre of Operations with the 7th Infantry where he was given a battlefield promotion. He also served in Korea during the Korean Conflict. During his military career, he was awarded twenty-three decorations among which were the Purple Heart Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge (2), C de Guerre w palms, Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Badge, Korean Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Following his transfer to Reserve status in 1961, he returned to Easton where, in 1969, he purchased the Anderson Gulf Oil Company. He re-named the company, the Russ Oil Company and served as its President until its sale to Pep-Up in 1986. A member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter #570, he was also a member of the E. E. Streets Memorial Post #5118, V.F.W and the B. P. O. Elks, Easton Lodge #1622. Major Russ is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Beach whom he married at Warren, Ohio on January 25, 1946; a daughter, Joan R. Becker and her husband, Joel, of Owings Mills, MD; three sons, David B. Russ, Douglas L. Russ and Kenneth L. Russ, Jr., all of Easton and three grandchildren, Stacey and Jason Becker and Brittany Russ. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 24th, at 2 P.M. at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton. Burial, with full military honors, will be at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA on Friday, May 4th at 3 P.M. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday evening, April 23rd, from 7 - 9 P.M. Memorial donations may be made to the Talbot Preservation Alliance, Inc., 210 Marlboro Road, PMB 31-208, Easton, MD 21601.