Larry James Russell, 73, of Mount Gilead, died peacefully Sunday, June 10, 2012, at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, surrounded by his family.
A memorial service was held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, at First United Methodist Church in Mount Gilead, with the Rev. Jim Harris and Mike Whang will officiating. The family received friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.
Mr. Russell was born April 9, 1939, in Montgomery County, a son of the late J. Paul and Blanche Chappell Russell. He was a retired textile manufacturer and a U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Mount Gilead.
Before retirement, Mr. Russell was founder and CEO of Russmont (Gay-Lar) Hosiery Mill Inc., Kratex Knitting and L. J. Russell Hosiery Mill Inc.
Mr. Russell was very active in the community and surrounding areas. He served on The O’Neal School Board of Trustees in Southern Pines, the Montgomery Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, First Bank Loan Board and Russwood Inc. as developer of Woodrun and Carolina Forest on Lake Tillery. He was a former officer of Montgomery County Rotary, former trustee of Trinity United Methodist Church of Troy, and past president of Montgomery Country Club, Troy. He was extremely active in the Boy Scouts of America, being an Eagle Scout himself. He was also awarded Man of the Year by the Montgomery County Jaycees for his service.
He is survived by his wife, Marsha Haywood Russell, of the home; two sons, Larry J. “Russ” Russell Jr. and wife, Pam, of Troy, and Todd Starling Russell and wife, Bev, of Mount Gilead; four stepdaughters, Joanna Jones Mason and husband, Stuart, of Charlotte, Katie Jones Kimrey and husband, Trey, and Kimberly Carpenter and husband, Steve, all of Albemarle, and Tatum Fritts, of Miami; four grandchildren, Chappell Russell, Claire Russell, Lilly Russell and Kimrey Clark; one brother, Charles J. Russell, of Nashville, Tenn.; and two sisters, Paula Sue Russell Vaughan, of Bolder, Colo., and Blanche Russell Keller, of Asheboro.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 176, Mount Gilead, NC 27306, or to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at edwardsfuneralhomes.co