- Date Of Birth: June 26, 1940
- Date Of Death: November 25, 2021
- State: Colorado
Elton Russell passed away on November 25 at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was the son of Walter W. And Alma I. Groves of Fruita. He spent his school years in Fruita and returned in 1995.
Elton is survived by two sons, a daughter, and two stepdaughters: Brian (Rachel) of McMinnville, Oregon; Tony (Kristi) of Sterling, Colorado; Cheryl Russell, Glenda (Michael) Little, and Debbie Little, all from White City, Oregon. He was a grandpa and great grandpa to many grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Leta Lockwood. His brother Rhondal W. Groves passed away just three days before him.
After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps at age 17. After his discharge, he returned to Fruita, Colorado for a bit before moving to Washington to reside with an aunt and uncle. He moved to Portland, Oregon, shortly thereafter, where he graduated from barber school eventually becoming an instructor and manager of the barber school. While in Portland, he met and married Gayle Hott. He adopted Gayle’s daughter Cheryl and became a stepdad to Debbie and Glenda.
As a new barber school opened in Medford, Oregon, he was asked to move there to manage it. After moving to the Medford area, his twin boys were born.
In 1973, he changed careers and began working at the Jackson County sheriff’s department as a correctional deputy. He remained there until his retirement in 1993. After he and Gayle divorced, he moved back to Fruita, Colorado and purchased land and a home from his parents. He also reconnected with an old girlfriend from his school days, Leta Bailey, whom he eventually married. He worked for the Colorado Department of Corrections at Delta until mandatory retirement age. He and Leta began raising and breeding horses, with Jen’s Fancy Rapper (Hank) being the most prized accomplishment. One of their final horses JB Jacks Lady Tucker (Tucker) remains in the Russell family.
He’s remembered for all of his years coaching Little League baseball, hunting, fishing, camping, grilling, wearing headbands while doing the yardwork (Hulk!), four-wheeler rides with his grandkids, giving great haircuts, his humor, generosity, and his love and friendship towards others.
