Obituary for Archibald Russell
Longtime Greenwich resident and proud WWII veteran, Archibald “Archie” Russell, 98, died peacefully at home early February 13th.
Born in Harrisburg, Illinois on November 23, 1924, Archie was the son of Robert Russell and Jean Adair Russell, both immigrants from Scotland. Archie moved with his parents to Greenwich at 5 years old and married the love of his life, Mary Kane, on January 10, 1948 - a love that lasted for over 67 wonderful years.
Drafted into the army after graduating from Greenwich High School, Archie served in the 1st Cavalry Division, 7th Cavalry Regiment, the last cavalry division to train on horses. After training in Fort Riley, Kansas in September 1943, he deployed to New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, the Philippines, and Leyte and was part of the Luzon campaign, where the regiment engaged until July 4, 1945. After the surrender of Japan, the 7th Cavalry Regiment occupied Tokyo, and Archie, still only 20 years old, was put in charge of guarding the Imperial Palace. Later, he became part of the honor guard for the American Embassy after General MacArthur reopened it in Japan. By the end of the war, Archie Russell had achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant in charge of his own platoon and was awarded a Purple Heart, an Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and a Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Service Star Victory Medal.
After the war, he became a master plumber, starting his own plumbing business, Russell Plumbing, and later becoming the owner of Fashion Light Center. He also had a passionate, lifelong interest in the stock market, and he would offer well-researched stock tips to friends, family, and anyone else who shared his interest. He was a diehard basketball fan, never missing a UConn girls or New York Knicks game if he could help it.
Archie was predeceased by his wife, Mary Kane Russell, and their son, Robert Thomas Russell. He is survived by his son, Archibald Russell, Jr., and his wife, Sandra, his daughter, Kathryn Russell, and his daughter, Elaine Russell Cooke, and her husband, Emerson Cooke. He deeply loved his grandchildren more than anything in this world – Robert Russell and his wife, Ashley, James Russell and his wife, Kristin, Alex Russell and his wife, Sarah Jane, Lauren Russell, Emme Cooke, Noelle Cooke, and, in Archie’s words, his “he’s so cute” great-grandson, Austin Russell.
Family and friends are invited to pay respects at the Castiglione Funeral Home, 544 Old Post Road #3, Greenwich, CT on Saturday, February 18th from 2 to 6 PM.
Born in Harrisburg, Illinois on November 23, 1924, Archie was the son of Robert Russell and Jean Adair Russell, both immigrants from Scotland. Archie moved with his parents to Greenwich at 5 years old and married the love of his life, Mary Kane, on January 10, 1948 - a love that lasted for over 67 wonderful years.
Drafted into the army after graduating from Greenwich High School, Archie served in the 1st Cavalry Division, 7th Cavalry Regiment, the last cavalry division to train on horses. After training in Fort Riley, Kansas in September 1943, he deployed to New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, the Philippines, and Leyte and was part of the Luzon campaign, where the regiment engaged until July 4, 1945. After the surrender of Japan, the 7th Cavalry Regiment occupied Tokyo, and Archie, still only 20 years old, was put in charge of guarding the Imperial Palace. Later, he became part of the honor guard for the American Embassy after General MacArthur reopened it in Japan. By the end of the war, Archie Russell had achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant in charge of his own platoon and was awarded a Purple Heart, an Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and a Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Service Star Victory Medal.
After the war, he became a master plumber, starting his own plumbing business, Russell Plumbing, and later becoming the owner of Fashion Light Center. He also had a passionate, lifelong interest in the stock market, and he would offer well-researched stock tips to friends, family, and anyone else who shared his interest. He was a diehard basketball fan, never missing a UConn girls or New York Knicks game if he could help it.
Archie was predeceased by his wife, Mary Kane Russell, and their son, Robert Thomas Russell. He is survived by his son, Archibald Russell, Jr., and his wife, Sandra, his daughter, Kathryn Russell, and his daughter, Elaine Russell Cooke, and her husband, Emerson Cooke. He deeply loved his grandchildren more than anything in this world – Robert Russell and his wife, Ashley, James Russell and his wife, Kristin, Alex Russell and his wife, Sarah Jane, Lauren Russell, Emme Cooke, Noelle Cooke, and, in Archie’s words, his “he’s so cute” great-grandson, Austin Russell.
Family and friends are invited to pay respects at the Castiglione Funeral Home, 544 Old Post Road #3, Greenwich, CT on Saturday, February 18th from 2 to 6 PM.