James Franklin "Jim" Russell

James Franklin  “Jim” Russell, 71 passed away Tuesday evening May 7, 2019 at his home in Topeka. He was born on September 23, 1947 in Ashland, Kentucky the son of Charles and Myrtle Creech Russell.  Jim attended Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia and graduated with the Class of 1967. Following high school Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 26, 1967.  He proudly served in Vietnam and was awarded a honorable discharge on July 23, 1971. Jim married the love of his life, Janet Longhofer on July 24, 1971 in Topeka. They were members of the Topeka First Nazarene Church. They performed a Puppet Ministry for Children’s Church for many years throughout the area. Jim worked at the Norfolk Public Schools from 1972 until 1974 as the maintenance technician for the school’s AV and Printing departments. Jim and Janet moved to Emporia, Kansas  where he took a position with the Post Office from 1975 until 1977.  Jim would  continue his  military service in the Air National Guard from 1977 until his retirement on October 1, 1996. Jim later worked at the Postal Repair Center from 1998 until his retirement in 2011.  Jim will live on in the hearts of his wife, Janet of their home,; daughters, Noel Edwards and her husband Ryan of Overbrook, Kansas and Aimee Tyrell and her husband Bryan of Topeka; a son, Chris Russell and his wife Monica of Princeton, Texas; a sister Linda Burlew and her husband Larry of Carbondale, Kansas; a brother, Robert Russell of Ashland, Kentucky; seven grandchildren, Caleb, Skyler, Cameron, Noah, Bryan Austin, Luke and Kenadee.  Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, May 13, 2019 at the Topeka First Nazarene Church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Burial with military honors is scheduled for 3:00 P.M. Monday at Lincoln Cemetery in Lebo. Memorial contributions may be made to “In Memory” (a support organization for veterans who died from the effects of agent orange) and sent in care of the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home at P.O. Box #43, Lebo, Kansas 66856. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.