Martha Swanner Russell's Obituary
On the morning of Friday, March 25, 2022, Martha gracefully passed into the waiting arms of Jesus. Martha Sue was born on October 5, 1937 to Walter and Mattie Swanner in the farming community of Fruitdale, Texas (later Oakcliff). An outgoing young lady, Martha was a lieutenant on Adamson High School's drill team, the Leopardettes. After graduating in 1955, she met and wed Billy Joe Russell of Athens, Texas, a marriage that grew over 65 years. Blessed with an acute mind, she was a life-long learner. When she was not researching genealogy, reading about history, art or antiquing, she spent her time gardening or preserving the inheritance of her revolutionary forebearers through her involvement with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her inquisitiveness led her to begin her collegiate education at Richland Community College in the mid 1970's. After pausing her education to put her family first, she restarted her bachelors at SMU, her then employer, and completed her degree in 1996. Working in SMU's Fondren Science Library for Industrial Information Services, Martha was indispensable as she filled the research requests of oil companies and defense contractors, a role she found challenging and intellectually rewarding. Apart from mental endeavors, Martha enjoyed animals, particularly cats, a passion she would bestow on her children and grandchildren.
Martha was an active member in the First Baptist Church of Richardson serving as an elementary Sunday school teacher, served in the baptistry, and was both a member of the senior adult choir, and the Bridge Builders Sunday school. Though she had many interests and the energy to pursue them, Martha's greatest joy was her faith in the Lord, her husband and her loving family, as evinced in her famous Sunday meals of southern pot-roast after church. She was preceded in Heaven by her father Walter Swanner; her mother Mattie Swanner; and her son Robert Russell. She is survived by her devoted husband Bill Russell; her sister Nancy Swanner Buchtel; her adoring children Elizabeth, Joe, Matthew, and Mark; and her cherishing grandchildren Thorne, Mink, Lael, Asa, Coraline, Samuel and Adeline. The Russell family would like to thank Dignified Living for taking care of Martha during her remaining months. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to First Baptist Church of Richardson's missions fund.
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