Russell Lee Goodpasture

89 years ago on December 2, 1926, God sent a blessing into the world in the person of Russell Lee Goodpasture. For those who happened to enter the private circle of Russell’s life, you knew an honest man of integrity and conviction who wielded a strong moral compass.

Our lives are richer for having known Russell as a faithful husband, stubborn yet principled father, devoted doting grandfather, persistent athlete, and hardworking and fair colleague. We know something more of the nature of God’s faithfulness because we experienced Russell’s faithfulness. We will remember Russell as a beloved son of the living God, created in God’s own image.

Born in Hennessey, OK, Russell was the third of three sons born to Charles Arthur Goodpasture and Elsie Daisy Ann Herrian; grew up in Caldwell, KS; entered the Army in 1945 serving over two years in the Philippines; and returned to Kansas to attend Kansas University. Russell met Ruth Lauver at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Wichita. They married four months later on April 9, 1950.

Russell began his United States Post Office career as a railway mail clerk and retired in 1982 as a supervisor in Tulsa. Over the years, Russell could be found on the basketball court, ski slopes, the golf course, at the bowling alley, creating woodworking projects the garage, or in his garden.

Monday, February 22, 2016, Russell succumbed to a body too weary to keep up with a body yearning to dig out tree roots, an agile mind attending to the stock market, and a wit that rivaled both.

Left to mourn Russell’s death and to give thanks for his life are his wife Ruth; son-in-law Dean Elbon (Tulsa); granddaughter Christa Turpin and Matt (Tulsa); son Jim and Velma (Morgan Hill, CA); grandchildren Jenny, Jason, Julie Goodpasture (CA); and Max, Russell’s faithful companion. Preceding Russell in death is his beloved daughter, Jane Elbon and infant great-grandson, Jordan (Tulsa).