Earl Riley Russell

Services for Earl Riley Russell will be 2:00p.m., Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at Inola Funeral Home Chapel, burial will follow at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 14 from 1pm--8pm, family will receive visitors from 6pm--8pm. Earl passed away at his home, surrounded by his loved ones, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 78.

Earl was born December 27, 1938 in Grove, Oklahoma to Kenneth E. and Julia E. (Graham) Russell. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Those family members that survive include his wife Cheryl of 46 years; his daughters, Angela Russell of Owasso, and Tonya Russell of Memphis, Tennessee; twin grandsons, the loves of his life, Brennan and Evan Russell, also of Owasso; a sister, Harriett Mills, of Russellville, Arkansas; brothers and sisters-in-law Gary and Barbara Williamson of Plano, Texas, and Charlotte and Jese Hopkins of Tyler, Texas, and Chris Conklin, the twins' Godfather, of Owasso.

In 1997 he retired after 30 years with Western Uniform & Towel Supply, later he retired from Brinks with 10 years of service. Earl served his country by joining the Navy in 1957, and was honorably discharged in 1961. During his service he was aboard the USS Twain Air Craft Carrier. It was the carrier that picked up John Glen out of the Atlantic Ocean in 1959.

Earl gave his heart to the Lord, and he was ready to go home.

View and sign Earl's online tribute at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com