Rowena Russell Obituary (1932 - 2005)

CORINNA - E. Rowena Russell, 73, died December 4, 2005 at a Dexter health care facility following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born May 13, 1932 at Lower Hainesville, New Brunswick, a daughter of George and Mary Whitehead. Rowena and her family moved to Charleston in 1944, and she married Melvin Russell of Corinna in 1954. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Husson College, and received her Master's Degree in Education in 1981. Rowena was a member of the Pleasant Street Christian Church in Corinna since 1956, where she was an active member, serving at the time of her death as church treasurer for 30 years, Sunday School Director, as well as teacher, and taught many years in Vacation Bible School and Bible Camp. She was actively involved with the Husson College Alumni Board for many years, receiving the Outstanding Alumna of Husson Award in 1982. Her educational career consisted of teaching business education courses at: the high school in Penobscot from 1951 to 1952, Corinna Union Academy from 1952 to 1968, and Nokomis Regional High School from 1968 to 1992. She also taught a Methods class at Husson College for many years. She was a member of BEAM: Business Education Association of Maine, serving as its President in 1978; the New England Business Educators Association, serving as its President from 1989 to 1990; and received the Maine Business Educator of the Year award in 1985. An active member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, she served as editor of its newsletter "Mainspring", and received the Alpha Psi State Achievement Award in 1995. Rowena was also a member of the Corinna Literary Club. Rowena and Melvin wintered in Kissimmee, Florida since she retired from teaching. She volunteered there with the AARP assisting seniors with their tax returns. In addition to her husband of 51 years, she is survived by a son Mel and wife Peggy Russell of St. Petersburg, FL; 4 grandsons, Christopher and Stephen Russell, both of Sanford, FL, Timothy Russell of Winter Park, FL, and Benjamin Russell of St. Petersburg, FL; a sister Annie and husband Ronald Russell of Rumford; a brother-in-law, Bourke and wife Esther Trask of E. Holden; a brother-in-law, Fred Manzer and wife Dot Thibodeau of Kissimmee, FL; a cousin, Roger and wife Barbara Whitehead of Glenburn; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; father and and mother-in-law, Horace and Irma Russell; a son, James Russell; a sister, Arilla Trask; a special uncle and aunt, James and Greta Whitehead; and a sister-in-law and husband, Myrtle and Robert Williams. Friends may call from 6 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, December 7th at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Chapel, 68 Exeter Road, Corinna. Funeral services will be held 11 A.M. Thursday, at the Pleasant Street Christian Church, Corinna, with the Rev. Edward Jaworski officiating. Burial will be in the Corinna Village Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Pleasant Street Christian Church Building Fund, c/o Steven Beaulieu, Treasurer, 29 St. Albans Road, Corinna, ME 04928.