of Little Rock, AR

May 30, 1925 - November 5, 2020

Wayne Russell, 95, of Little Rock (formerly of Hope, AR), passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at his home. He was born May 30, 1925, in Brownsville, TN to William Lancelot Russell and Addie Sue Powell Russell. He graduated from Messick High School in Memphis, TN and the University of Memphis.

Wayne enjoyed a long and successful career in the Arkansas poultry industry. He retired in 1979 as Vice President and General Manager of Corn Belt Hatcheries, a division of the Kroger Company having started with Corn Belt at its inception in 1956. Wayne served as President of the Arkansas Poultry Federation and was honored as APF Man of the Year in 1972. He also served on the Arkansas Egg Council.

A WWII veteran, Wayne served in the Army Corp of Engineers, landing on Omaha Beach in 1944 and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge before being honorably discharged at the end of the war. In the ensuing years he returned to Memphis; married his high school sweetheart; started their family; and moved to Hope, AR, where the family grew to four children. A lifelong and devoted Christian, Wayne was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church of Hope, where he served in a number of lay positions and was long tenured as part of the teaching rotation of the Century Bible Class before moving his membership to Highland Valley UMC in Little Rock.

As part of the greatest generation, as described by Tom Brocaw, Wayne possessed a strong work ethic, a deep devotion to God, family, and country, a keen sense of humor, a natural affinity for building and fixing just about anything, and a life-long love for St. Louis Cardinals baseball, which he shared with his wife. These qualities among many others he instilled in his children.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 74 years, Ruby Phillips Russell; 4 children, Lynn Russell Teague (Bill) of Nacogdoches, TX; Mike Russell (Melissa) of Jonesboro, AR; Phil Russell (Melinda) of Germantown, TN; and Steven Russell (Tina) of Little Rock. Also surviving are 6 grandchildren; Blake Breshears (Stacy), Lynsey Russell, Meghan Russell, Maggie Russell, Whitney Russell Hollingsworth (Joey), and Drew Russell (Julie); 3 great grandchildren; and his brother, Thomas I. Russell of Inglewood, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents; his 4 brothers William L. Russell, Jr., Roland P. Russell, Joseph H. Russell, Henry Russell, and his sister Mary Sue Russell Moore.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2020, in the chapel at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR (501-224-8300). Private burial will be at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Alexander, AR.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Highland Valley UMC, 15524 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com