Final Voyage, Bill Russell, Falcon

T

thataway

Active member
I bring very sad news. Brenda Russell notified me today. Bill Russell passed on August 27 and services were held on August 31, 2022.

Bill and Brenda bought their C Dory 22 Falcon in the fall of 2004. from 3 Rivers Marine, Crystal River, FL. They took their first long river trip, in the Spring of 2005. We met with them at least once a year in various gatherings, from Apalachicola, to The Meet in the Middle, and the St. John's River. We last saw Bill and Brenda in 2019, as the lock North of Chattanooga, Tenn. opened during the time we were finally going to be able to haul out due to lock maintenance and massive flooding. Here was Falcon, waiting to down lock. Bill wanted one last run of the entirety of the Tennessee River. This was the last trip on Falcon.

He didn't achieve his final bucket list: Completing the Mississippi River to its mouth from New Orleans. He had done all of the rest from St Paul to New Orleans. Bill had written up their travels on C Brats and in "Heartland Boating". Bill and Brenda had traveled most of the rivers of Heartland America.

William Arthur Russell, 87, of Stamps, Arkansas was born July 18, 1935, in Clarksville, Texas. He and Brenda were married a little over 60 years. Throughout the sixty years of their marriage, they rarely spent a day or night apart. As a couple, they ran the Otasco Store on the Stamps triangle, Arkansas for decades and later a successful photography studio.

Bill, too, was passionate about photography. For many years, he was a freelance photographer for the paper and later spent years at his studio capturing family portraits, weddings and other special moments.
Bill also loved sailing on “The Falcon”, his beloved C-Dory boat. He enjoyed writing stories about his adventures and often bragged about being a published writer in “Heartland Boating”.
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My favorite story about Bill, is that at one of the early gatherings at Apalachicola, I found a pocket knife by the entrance of a portalette at John Bonner's house on the river. I was pretty sure that the knife belonged to Bill. He was constantently using it. They had already deparated to haul their boat out many miles away along the ICW. We hopped into our Tom Cat and quickly caught up with Falcon, Bill and Brenda. Marie tossed the knife to Brenda, as we pulled along side. Brenda told me today, that Bill finally broke a blade on that knife, and had purchased a new knife. His grandsons, slipped the old knife into his pocket at the viewing....Where is he going to carving next?

Bill was always the gentleman with his white shirt and mild manor. Despite being a world class photographer, he never posted a photo on C brats. He did carry a small point and shoot camera, and said, he was finished with the photography business! Boating was fun! Bill will always live in our hearts.

Bill at Apalachicola in 2015, being served a custom omelet by Marc Grove

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Falcon, always came to the inner tie at the bank. Apalachicola 2015

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So very sad to hear about Bill. Bill and Brenda were one of the earlier folks that Rosanne and I met at a Meet in the Middle Gathering. Rosanne very much enjoyed socializing with Brenda during that gathering. I remember Bill as one that was always dressed quite well. And I also very much enjoyed visiting with them at the gathering. I always wondered what they were doing now days. If you talk to Brenda again, give her our condolences. Colby
 
Thanks for letting us know, We enjoyed boating with them in NC, and on the Tenn. River. I was thinking about them a few weeks ago Jim Jessup (Pandy Girl)
 
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