Bill Russell of Lexington, NC, died Saturday, August 10, 2013, at Forsyth Medical Center after declining health of one year.
A funeral service will be held at Catawba College, Salisbury, NC at Omwake-Dearborn Chapel at 11:00 AM Wednesday, August 14, 2013. Following the service, interment will be at 3:00 PM at Bethesda Church and Cemetery, Route 5, Bethesda Section, Aberdeen, NC 28315.
The family will receive friends at First Presbyterian Church of Lexington, where he was a member for 35 years, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, August 13, 2013. Dr. Russell was born April 13, 1935 in Aberdeen, NC to the late Leonard and Frances Russell. He was also pre-deceased by his grandparents, Wesley Dwight Caviness and Belle Pleasants Caviness, his sister Elizabeth Russell Brooks, uncles Wesley Glenn Caviness and William T. Wooten, and aunt, Louise Bernt.
Bill is survived by his wife of 48 years, Suzanne Steed Russell of the home, and by his two children, daughter Ashley and son Scott, and grandson Tyler, all of Lexington. He is also survived by his brother Glenn and his wife Gail of Newport News, Virginia, beloved aunt, Elizabeth Caviness Wooten, brother-in-law Joesph N. Steed III and his wife Ann of Blythwood, SC, sister-in –law Judith Steed McWilliams of Pinehurst, NC and cousin Frank Pleasants and wife Margaret of, Southern Pines, NC and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1954 and earned the Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Social Studies in 1957 from Catawba College. He received the M.Ed at UNC –Chapel Hill in 1958, and the Ed.D from UNC-Greensboro, 1978. Bill has had a long and successful career in education. In 1958, he became a teacher and coach at Aberdeen High School, Moore County. He was quickly recognized for his leadership abilities and given the principalship at Hoffman Union School, Moore County, in 1959 at the age of 23. Bill was principal at Vass-Lakeview Elementary School in Moore County, from 1964-67. He taught health and physical education at UNC-Greensboro and was Supervisor for Student Teachers from 1967-74. From 1974 -1991, Bill was Coordinator of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth School System, while also serving as adjunct professor at Gardner-Webb College. From 1991 to the present he was Department Chairman of the Physical Education and Recreation at Catawba College.
Bill was honored on numerous occasions for his leadership. He was president of the NC Athletics Association. He was honored with the Shepherd Alumni Award from UNC – Greensboro, The Trustee Award for Outstanding Contribution to the college, Catawba College 2013; and had an Endowed Scholarship awarded at Catawba College in his honor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bill Russell Endowed Fund for Physical Education at Catawba College, Office of Development, 2300 W. Innes Street, Salisbury NC 28144.
