RICHARD “DICK” CHARLESWORTH RUSSELL
Richard “Dick” Charlesworth Russell, age 88, passed way at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital on Thursday, March 24th, 2022, surrounded by his daughters, Elizabeth “Lisa” Russell Roper and Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Russell.
A long-time Houston resident, most recently residing in The Forum at Memorial Woods with his wife Janie Henderson Russell (who passed July, 2020), Dick was born in Cleveland, OH, November 2, 1933 to Richard E. & Katherine Russell. He later gained a brother, Peter, but lost his mother to kidney disease shortly thereafter. His father remarried Ruthie, a wonderful stepmother to the two boys and loving grandmother to Lisa, Debbie and Tammy.
The family moved to Atlanta, GA in 1941, where his father worked for Southern Bell Telephone. Dick graduated from North Fulton High School in 1951 and then attended Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, graduating Cum Laude in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
He then spent two years on active duty in the US Navy, serving on the USS Mauna Loa ammunition ship; the USS Vigil, a radar picket ship; and then, reaching the rank of captain, continued serving in the reserves.
Upon his exit from active duty, he began working at the Humble Oil Refinery Co. in Baytown, TX… and continued working at the company for over 32 years as it became Exxon; retiring just prior to the 1998 Exxon-Mobil merger. Most of those years were in Houston, except for a 3-year stint in the NYC office.
He served in various roles such as Project Manager for the Baytown Refinery; Refinery Planning for Exxon; Budget Coordinator for Houston and Corp. offices; and Director of Environmental Health in the Medical Dept.
At his retirement roast, his colleagues presented him with a toy medical kit and a fake law degree, joking how he’d become an expert in both by proxy.
He married Jane A. Henson in 1964, and they had three daughters, Lisa, Debbie and Tammy (who passed in 2020). Dick and Jane were married 25 years, taking the family on some great summer adventures, including visiting family, and historic/natural venues across the northeast during their CT/NY years and even buying a motor home to tote them around the Rockies; and then a timeshare in Beaver Creek, CO, for winter skiing vacations.
After retirement, he consulted with the American Petroleum Institute and was published in several journals in the industry. He crafted many pointed letters to the editor and congresspeople on a variety of subjects. He considered himself an “old school Lincoln Republican,” becoming a staunch critic of the contemporary party. Friends remarked on his knowledge in many realms, lending to him being a great conversationalist.
In 1998, he married Janie Henderson (he had a thing for “Janes”!) and they spent several years traveling the world. They lived happily with their beloved dogs until her passing.
He is survived by his daughters; son-in-law Boyce Roper, and grandsons Bob, Matthew and Andrew Roper.
SERVICES: As Janie and Dick requested cremation; a memorial service for them both will be held April 23, 2022, at 3pm, at The Forum at Memorial Woods, 711 N. Post Oak, & will be available to join in by livestream https://fb.me/e/1d3j4hf8y DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard C. Russell’s name to either ACLU-TX; Texas Freedom Network or the Union of Concerned Scientists. Before cremation, Dick’s body is being donated to UT-Health Houston - McGovern Medical School - to further his contributions to science.