- Date Of Birth: June 18, 1924
- Date Of Death: January 8, 2007
- State: Florida
After a battle with cancer, Col. (Ret.) Francis M. Russell took his final flight heavenward Monday, January 8, 2007. He was born June 18, 1924 in Summit, Ohio to Harry Ling Russell and Elizabeth Cairo Cowen. Col. Russell (aka “Bulldog”) was a former fighter pilot and combat veteran of three wars. During World War II, he flew P-47s and P-51s as a member of the 356th Fighter Group based in England. He shot down four enemy aircraft before he was wounded in action and hospitalized. He fought in Korea in the early 1950s as an F-86 pilot in the 4th Fighter Wing and again in Southeast Asia in 1966-67 as an F-105 pilot with the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing Base at Takhli AB, Thailand. He was a command pilot with 3,800 flying hours and 250 combat missions. His other assignments included duty as Chief of Maintenance, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena AB, Okinawa, and as Maintenance Control Officer, 4520th Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis AFB, Nevada. He also completed two tours at Eglin AFB, his last as Chief of Maintenance. Col. Russell retired from the Air Force in 1974 as Deputy Commander for Material, 323d Flying Training Wing, Mather AFB, California.
Upon his retirement, “Frank” or “Russ” as most of his friends knew him, built his and Ruth’s home in Shalimar. Upon completion, he dabbled in real estate with his partners of Castaway Bay. As a skilled lapidarist, he opened Naomi Handcraft and made beautiful jewelry for family and friends. “Dad, we will forever cherish your ‘elf dew.’” His last venture was the acquisition of T-Square Reprographics in Ft. Walton and Pensacola. Prior to his illness, Frank enjoyed traveling to see family and attending his World War II reunions, attending jewelry shows, golfing, and gardening.
In 2001,Col. Russell was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, the former Naomi Ruth Wheeler. His four children, Kay Ceragioli of Sacramento; Connie White and her husband Lamar of Shalimar; Cathy Russell of Shalimar; and son Ken and his wife Kelly Russell of Brunswick, Georgia survive him.
“Papa” also leaves to mourn his passing his six grandchildren who will miss him dearly. Russell DeHennis and his fiancé Kaycee Williams of Tallahassee; Ben White of Oklahoma City; Rachel Amerault and her husband Clark of Pacific Grove, Calif.; Amanda Ceragioli of Sacramento; Ashley and Emilee Russell of Brunswick, Ga.
He also leaves behind two sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.
