Thomas Russell

Thomas Leroy "Roy" Russell - devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather - passed away peacefully at his home Sunday morning, July 23, 2017, at the age of 90. Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 25, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA and Wednesday morning from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The service begins at 11:30 a.m. and interment will be in the Resthaven Gardens of Memory following the service.
Roy was born in 1926 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was a member of the greatest generation having served in the Navy during World War II. Roy married the love of his life, Betty Watson Russell, in 1948 and had a daughter and three sons.
Roy was devoted to his family, and was a doting grandfather and great grandfather. He was a man of integrity, ethics, and hard work, and passed that legacy to his children and grandchildren. Roy worked two to three jobs at a time while his children were young in order to provide for them. One summer, while working at what was then Esso (Exxon), Roy decided to build a pool in his backyard for his children. With nothing more than a book and the will to do it, Roy built the first of what would be many pools in his lifetime. Roy and Betty went on to build a successful pool business and passed their hard work ethic along to their three sons, Tommy, Darrell, and Keith and to their daughter, Mona Russell Sappenfield.
Roy never met a stranger, and he was known to share memories of selling newspapers and other odd jobs that he had during his childhood. He would also talk about shifts that he had worked at the Esso (Exxon) plant; vividly describing the lathe equipment he used to shape various pieces of metal or wood and his fellow co-workers as if he had seen them the day before.
Roy's grandchildren will remember the wonderful times spent with their Paw Paw in the motor home going on trips or tailgating at LSU football games. Most of all they will remember their grandfather's generosity and love for his family.
Roy is survived by his loving wife Betty Russell; his sons - Tommy and wife Brenda Russell, Darrell and wife Lisa Russell, Keith and wife Tina Russell; his daughter - Mona and husband Bill Sappenfield; his grandchildren - Lee and wife Monica Russell, Cynthia and husband Jonathon Segal, Elizabeth and husband Darren Hess, Jessica and husband Dan Nolan, Jacquelyn Sappenfield, Allison and husband Forest Crump, Sarah and husband Michael Mahaffey, Rebecca and husband Tom Daly, Camille and husband Matthew Cornett, Morgan and husband Matt Banta; his sister Beverly Wolf; his brother Ed Russell; and his 10 great grandchildren.
Roy was predeceased by his parents - Emanuel and Mamie Russell; his father-in-law and mother-in-law - Julius and Alana Watson; his brothers - David Eugene Russell and Emmanuel Russell; his sisters - Suzi Hines, Minnie Cox, Ruth Leblanc, Emily Campbell, Leona Delores and Mary Green; and his grandson - Taylor Russell.
Those honored to be pallbearers will be - Lee Russell, Darren Hess, Dan Nolan, Forest Crump, Michael Mahaffey, Tom Daly, Matthew Cornett, Matt Banta and Eli Crump.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, any charitable donations be made to St. Vincent DePaul.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
9:30 am - 11:30 am

Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
11:30 am