Bobby Gene Russell

GOLD HILL - Bobby Gene Russell, of Gold Hill, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, March 8, 2012, at his residence

Born in Rowan County Oct. 19, 1934, he was the son of Henry Guy Russell and Sallie Kathleen Shaver Russell. He was a graduate of Rockwell High School, Rockwell, a lifetime member of Gold Hill United Methodist but attended Gold Hill Wesleyan Church.

Bob was a self-employed truck driver all his life, first in dump trucking and then in the '70s he went into tractor trailer business, leasing to Superior Motor Express and hauling out of the state port at Wilmington.

He also loved Bluegrass music, having started playing young and played in several local bands over the year. He played any instrument but the banjo was his instrument of choice. He has enjoyed the Sirius FM Bluegrass station during his illness.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Guy (Bill) Russell; a sister, Miriam Kathleen McCullough; and a stepson, David LaMont Scott

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Jones Russell, Gold Hill; daughter Kimberly Delane Love (Rex), Stanfield; stepdaughter Donna Carnes, Concord; stepsons Robbie Kegeris (Lisa), Charlotte, Rocky Kegeris (Sherry) of Gold Hill, Tony Scott (Kathy) Temecula, Calif.; one grandson; one granddaughter; two great-granddaughters; 13 stepgrandchildren; seven step great-grandchildren; sister Minnie Lee Bost (Zeb) of Gold Hill; one sister-in-law, Annie Lou Russell; one special former daughter-in-law, Dawn Purtle (Nathan) of Fairbom, Ohio, who he loves as a daughter; a grandson, Nick Purtle (Brittani) of Edmond Okla., who he loves dearly; and one more grandson, his little "Dan Uggla" Dylan Kegeris of Gold Hill.

Service and Visitation: Funeral service will be 12 p.m. Saturday at Brookhill Memorial Gardens, Rockwell; the family will receive friends from 11-11:45 a.m. prior to the service.

Gordon Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is serving the Russell family.

Salisbury Post, 9 Mar2012