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James Albert Russell - Obituary
June 21, 1947 - November 24, 2022
James
Albert
Russell,
75,
died
unexpectedly
on
November
24,
2022
at
his
home
in
Alderson,
Greenbrier
County,
West
Virginia,
with
his
wife
by
his
side.
He
had
been
in
excellent
health,
enjoying
his
many
friendships
and
golf
right
up
until
recent
hip
replacement
surgery.
Healing
well,
he
was
talking
about
plans for the months and years ahead.
James
Albert
Russell
was
born
on
June
21,1947
in
Ronceverte,
West
Virginia
to
Lillian
Vaughan
Russell
and
Andrew
James
Russell.
He
was
the
valedictorian
of
Alderson
High
School,
class
of
1965,
and
he
was
a
1969
graduate
of
the
United
States
Military
Academy
at
West
Point.
Jim
served
his
country in the United States Army in Vietnam.
Jim
married
Alma
Jean
Knapp
on
June
14,
1969.
Their
beloved
son,
James
Albert
Russell,
Jr.
was
born
on
February
1,
1973.
Upon
completion
of
his
military
service,
Jim
enrolled
at
West
Virginia
University
College
of
Law,
where
he
graduated
in
1977
and
was
a
member
of
the
Law
Review
and
a
member
of
the
Order
of
the
Coif.
He
married
Melinda
Dines
Russell on August 6, 1977. Their beloved son, Benjamin Andrew Russell, was born on June 27, 1981.
There
were
four
institutions
that
were
particularly
dear
to
Jim’s
heart:
Johnson
Memorial
United
Methodist
Church,
Alderson
High
School,
West
Point,
and
Steptoe
&
Johnson
PLLC.
Jim
began
working
as
an
associate
at
Steptoe
&
Johnson
in
June
1977,
became
a
partner
five
years
later,
and
a
member
when
the
law
firm
reorganized
and
expanded.
He
practiced
in
the
Clarksburg,
West
Virginia
office
and
later
in
the
Morgantown, West Virginia office, retiring on December 31, 2015.
Jim
had
an
optimistic,
generous,
and
caring
spirit.
He
rejected
a
me-first
view
of
life
and
believed
that
families,
church
families,
armies,
law
firms,
and
nations
are
stronger
when
individuals
work
together.
He
reconnected
with
treasured
high
school
classmates
after
building
his
retirement
home
in
Alderson.
He
kept
up
with
West
Point
classmates,
returning
for
reunions
nearly
every
five
years.
He
stayed
in
touch
with
law
firm colleagues after his retirement and cheered on the law firm as it expanded its national footprint.
Jim
Russell
adored
his
wife.
Jim
Russell
loved
and
adored
his
sons.
He
rooted
for
them,
believed
in
them,
and
was
immensely
proud
of
the
fine
men
they
have
become.
He
treasured
his
grandchildren
and
took
an
active part in their lives.
Jim
is
survived
by
his
wife,
Melinda;
James
Albert
Russell,
Jr.
and
his
fiancé,
Megan
Garland;
Benjamin
Andrew
Russell
and
his
wife,
Aubre
Everly
Russell;
granddaughter,
Myers
Anne
Russell;
grandsons
Cameron, Aidan, Finn and Nash Jackson; and brother, Andrew Simpson Russell and his wife, Vikki Russell.
A
Memorial
Service
will
be
held
at
Johnson
Memorial
United
Methodist
Church
in
Alderson
on
Saturday,
December
10th
at
11
am.
Lobban
Funeral
Home
is
in
charge
of
arrangements.
Gifts
in
memory
of
Jim
may
be made to Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church.
To
send flowers
to the family or
plant a tree
in memory of James , please visit
our floral store.