Russell, Paul

Paul Edgar Russell, 89, of Paradise Valley passed away in the company of his family on February 16, 2014. Born in Roswell, NM, to Ruben Mathias Russell and Mary Carolina Parsons, Paul had seven brothers and sisters, including a twin sister, Pauline. Paul graduated from Roswell High School in May 1941, and then served in the Signal Corps in the Philippines and Japan during World War II; he was honorably discharged as a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant. After the war, he earned his BS in Electrical Engineering (1946) and Mechanical Engineering (1947) from New Mexico State University, and a Masters (1950) and PhD (1951) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Paul retired as a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Arizona State University, having previously served as Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Arizona, Dean of Engineering at Kansas State University, Program Director for Applied Science, Engineering and Technology for the West Campus of ASU (which he helped create), and Director of ASU’s School of Construction and Technology. He worked as a design specialist and consultant for General Dynamics and various other companies in the U.S. and worldwide, served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Engineering Accreditation Commission for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and helped establish engineering programs in various countries. He was also a Fellow with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a member of numerous honorary and fraternal societies, and a recipient of many academic and professional awards. Paul loved horses, mules, the great outdoors, moose, margaritas, outhouses, poetry and songs, and he had a great, playful sense of humor. Paul loved and was very proud and supportive of his family. He leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Lorna Margaret Russell, and three children, Carol Potter of Tucson, AZ, Janice Cook (Bill) of Mesilla, NM and Gregory Russell (Kim) of Phoenix, AZ. He is also survived by eight grandchildren - Debbie (Court), Kristie (Andres), Siusla, Ariel (Britt), Shawn (Stephanie), Karath (Amanda), Erin (Daniel), and Brian (Alieshia) - and six great-grandchildren (Merin, Chase, Damon, Paige, Alexus and Keith). He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or your favorite academic program.