James Russell

JAMES A. RUSSELL,

Passed away on Jan. 16, 2021 after a lingering illness. Jim was born in 1947 and grew up in the northeast end of Canton, attending Gibbs grade school and graduated from McKinley High School in 1965.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam era of the late 1960s and spent most of his time in South Korea, since his older brother was already in Viet Nam.  After leaving the Army, Jim had a number of careers including work at R&J Furniture in a variety of positions, working in trucking for a number of years and then in logistics at Frito Lay, before retiring in Perry Twp.  He was a naturally funny person and had many friends along the way and he most certainly had an impact on them all to this day.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents, C.J. (Dutch, 1967) and Esther (West) Russell (1962), two older brothers, Albert (2005) and C.J. Jr. (Jack, 1963) and his oldest sister Gerri Kruspe (1973) and her youngest son, Edward (2019).  Three older half-sisters, Marge Orth Minton, JoAnn Crandall, and Barbara Picard Smith are also deceased.  He is survived by two sisters, Nancy Codispoti and Esther Oprandi, and two brothers, William Russell and Barry (Mary) Russell.  Jim is also survived by ten nieces and nephews and a number of scattered cousins on the West side of the family.  Jim has already been missed for most of the recent past and will not be soon forgotten by all that knew him along his own special way, be it in a gigantic GM car earlier, or tooling around on his trusty bicycles.  Cremation has taken place and there is to be a specifically informal memorial service at a later date for those wishing to remember him.  The Formet-Clevenger & Gordon Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be left at: www.gordonfuneralhomes.com.

JIM WAS QUITE A CHARACTER!  He was our brother.

Gordon (330)456-4766

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