Marjorie "Marge" Russell
March 29, 1934 — May 15, 2011
A funeral service for Marjorie "Marge" L. Russell, 77, of Granville will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 20, 2011 at Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville with Rev. Stephen Cramer officiating. Private burial will be held at Welsh Hills Cemetery.
Marge, a former elementary school teacher for Columbus and Newark City Schools, died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the Selma Markowitz Care Center operated by Hospice of Central Ohio. She was born March 29, 1934 in Troy, New York to the late Harold K. and Arline (Gratto) Leaning.
Marge received her elementary teaching degree at Potsdam State Teachers College in New York. In 1956, after marrying her husband, Richard Russell, in Essex, NY, she moved to Columbus and began teaching for Columbus City Schools. They moved to Newark in 1960 and later to Granville in 1974. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Granville. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and very active in The United Methodist Women including the bereavement committee, The Shoebox Ministry, and the Election Day Dinners.
Marge was an avid knitter and donated many hand-knit hats and mittens to Head Start, elementary schools, and various shelters. She loved children and nothing more than holding a baby in her arms.
Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Richard A. Russell; sons and daughter-in-laws, Stephen and Joann Russell, Scott and Janice Russell, and Jeffrey Russell and Anne Woodward; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Lance Durfey; grandchildren, Tyler and Shannon Russell, Ranatta and her husband, Adam Young and Randee and her husband, Joshua Steinke, and Samantha and Jennifer Durfey; brothers, Richard "Dickie" and his wife, Jackie Leaning, and William "Bubbie" and his wife, Jeanne Leaning; sister, Arline "Betsy" and her husband, Don Whitlock; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by one brother, Gerald "Gerry" Leaning.
Friends may call Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Shepherd Hall at Centenary United Methodist Church. To ensure family receipt, please express all online condolences at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the memory of Marjorie Russell to The United Methodist Women, c/o Centenary United Methodist Church, Granville, Ohio.