Russell J. Lawrence

Russell James Lawrence, age 88, of Oldtown Valley, passed away Friday evening, September 23, 2011 in Aultman Hospital’s Pallative Care Unit at Canton following a period of declining health.Born in New Philadelphia on May 1, 1923, he was the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Arther L. and Minnie (Ruefner) Lawrence. Russell married his lifelong companion and friend, the former Virginia M. Korns in Cambridge, Ohio on June 5, 1944. While in his 20s, Russell made ice cream for the former Goshen Dairy for 10 years before continuing his professional career at the former Warner & Swasey Co. There, he worked in the honing department, retiring from Gradall after 31 years of employment. In retirement, Russell greatly enjoyed working at Mr. Graber’s construction company where he drove truck.He had a love for nature, including tending to his garden. Russell also was a former softball player. In addition to his beloved wife, Virginia Lawrence, Russell will be deeply missed by his four daughters including Diana Smith of Marietta, Georgia, Sara (Robert) Kron of Conesville, Ohio, Kathy (Scott) Devol of Canton, and Cindy (Martin) Hoenes of North Canton; his grandchildren, Todd and Christopher Kron, Ginger Wahjudi, Steve Albright, Debbi Rizzo, Megan Shaver, Cory Devol and Madison Hoenes; his great-grandchildren, Rya and Eric Kron, Quinn Wahjudi, and Nicholas and Jacob Albright; his sister-in-law, Gaye Jenkins of Dover; and his brother-in-law, Glenn Korns of New Philadelphia.He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Naomi McClelland and Arlene Schide; his brothers, Robert Lawrence and Eugene Lawrence; and a son-in-law.Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Monday, September 26, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. A service celebrating Russell’s life will be Tuesday in the funeral home’s chapel beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia.Friends are invited to the Geib Family Center following the burial where a meal will be shared.Memorial contributions in Russell’s name may be directed to the Norma Johnson Center and Nature Preserve, a center that promotes the conservation of natural resources through education, community outreach and personal experience, 277-B Canal Avenue SE, New Philadelphia, O. 44663.Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibcares.com