Wilma Grace Russell

     Mrs. Wilma Grace Russell, 85, of 3708 Columbus Road, died at 11:46 a.m. Sunday (September 3, 2006) in Blessing Hospital.

     Born October 20, 1920 in Keokuk, Iowa, Mrs. Russell was the daughter of Richard Dover and Ethel Chloe (Bryant) Drummond.  She married James Russell on March 1, 1958 in Grace Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Illinois.  He preceded her in death.

     Prior to making her home in Quincy, Mrs. Russell was employed several years in the office of Shellor-Globe in Keokuk, Iowa.  In Quincy, she was a paraprofessional in the Work-Study School at Quincy Senior High and was employed at Sharkey Transportation as an office secretary and health insurance administrator until her retirement. 

     Wilma’s greatest enjoyment was the time she spent with family and friends.  She also loved working in her flower garden, reading, and traveling. 

     Wilma was an active member of Union United Methodist Church where she served on the Church Council, Board of Trustees, and as a Sunday school teacher.  She was also a member of the Union Methodist Women’s Sarah Guild and the Fidelis Class.  She served as a mentor in the Child Family Mentor Program for the Quincy Public Schools and as a volunteer for the Salvation Army.  She also served as a past member of RSVP and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

     Survivors include twin daughters, Carol Burris of Port Monmouth, New Jersey and Cheryl Martucci along with her husband Bob of Kahoka, Missouri; three sons, Charles “Chuck” Burris of Morris, Illinois, James “Jim” Russell and his wife Linda of Quincy, and William “Bill” Russell and his wife Julia of Quincy; seven grandchildren, Benjamin Burris of Morris, Illinois, Patti Rashid and her husband David of Ft. Madison, Iowa, Deanne Smith and her husband Mike of Montrose, Iowa, Bobby Long and his wife Samantha of DeSoto, Iowa, and Nathan Russell, Allison Russell, and Alex Russell all of Quincy; seven great grandchildren, Raequel and Cameron Burris, Katie and Dyvon Smith, and Elysia, David and George Rashid; a sister, Nova Dunn and her husband Walter of Waukee, Iowa, a sister-in-law, Addie Drummond of Fargo, North Dakota; and several nieces and nephews.

     Mrs. Russell was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James; brother, Willis “Ace” Drummond of Fargo, North Dakota; nephews, David Nicol of Dallas, Texas,  Richard Drummond of Fargo, North Dakota and Reverend Richard Dunn of West Chester, Iowa; and great grandchild, Ashley Rashid of Ft. Madison, Iowa.

     The family will meet with friends for a luncheon at Union United Methodist Church on Thursday at 12:00 prior to a memorial service to celebrate Wilma’s life which will be held in the church at 1:30. The Rev. Robert Morwell will officiate.  Inurnment will be in Greenmount Cemetery.

     Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home.