Ronald Russell, 74, passed away December 14th, 2023. Ronnie was born April 11, 1949, the son of Earl Stanley and Irene Russell. Upon graduation from Ponca City Senior High School, Class of 1968, he joined the U. S. Navy, reporting to active duty in San Diego, CA on November 13, 1968. He was a proud US Navy Vietnam veteran and a life member of the VFW Post 1201 and Vietnam Veterans of America Group #7050. He served aboard the USS Taussig DD746 and the USS Rupertus DD851. He married his high school sweetheart Claire Beman on November 21, 1969, in Ponca City, OK. They were blessed with two children, son Todd Ray and daughter Kari Dawn. He retired from Mertz Manufacturing where he worked as a welder for over 25 years.

Ronnie loved spending time with family and friends, especially his four grandkids. Whether it was doing hands on things like hunting, fishing, taking the grandkids to their first rodeo, or attending any event they were participating in. He loved having early morning breakfast with his brothers Mark and Skip and hunting, fishing, and going to the rodeo and OSU football games with his best buddy Wes. These times will all be missed, and memories treasured by those he left behind.

Ronnie is survived by and will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 54 years Claire, son Todd (DeAunn) Russell of Enid, OK, daughter Kari (Duane) Henson of East Carondelet, IL, his grandkids Trenton and Siearra Russell and Kassidy and Logan Henson. He is also survived by his brother Robert “Skip” Russell and family, brother and sister-inlaw Mark and Kitty Russell and family, “sister” Cheri Sellers and son Eric, along with the rest of the Randol, Beman, Cloud, and Russell clans.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Irene Russell, his maternal grandparents (Randol) and paternal grandparents (Russell), an infant brother and his beloved “favorite” sister Debbie. Also preceded in death by his in-law family Earl and Elizabeth Beman, Dwight and Rodney Beman, and W.D and Gladys Pierce.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2023, in the First Christian Church with Pastor Marty Pettit officiating. Interment will follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery under the care of Grace Memorial Chapel of Ponca City. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the VFW Post 1201, Vietnam Veterans of America Group #7050, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Paid Obituary