Dr. Henry Ewell “Hank” Russell was born in Paducah, Kentucky, November 19, 1921. He is proceeded in death by his parents Henry Ewell and Margaret Wurst Russell. His great-great-great grandfather was Major Charles Ewell, the only Revolutionary War veteran buried in Paducah. Major Ewell received a land grant in what is now McCracken County from President George Washington for his military service in the American Revolution. When Hank was twelve, he competed against high school seniors and won the first place medal in oratory from Senator Alben W. Barkley, who later became Vice President of the United States under President Truman. In recent years, Hank was the keynote speaker at a commemoration of Alben Barkley at Broadway Methodist Church as the oldest Alben Barkley medal recipient. Hank’s favorite quote was from Vice President Barkley’s last speech. “I would rather be a door keeper in the house of the Lord than to sit in the seats of the mighty.” Upon making this pronouncement, Barkley clutched his chest and collapsed and was received up into glory. Hank served the following Methodist Congregations over his years of ministry from 1942 -1991: Oakgrove Methodist Church near Jackson, Tennessee – Gilbertsville Circuit Gilbertsville, Kentucky when they were building Kentucky Dam – this included Gilbertsville, Calvert City, Palma, and Oakland. Associate at Grace Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Nevada Circuit, including Nevada, Pleasant Valley, Lavon, and Rowlett, Texas. In the Memphis Conference: Wickliffe, Kentucky, Reidland, Kentucky, Ellendale, Tennessee. Hank founded St. Stephen’s in Memphis, served Fulton, Kentucky where Hank participated in a nation-wide revival in the Methodist Churches in Cuba shortly before Castro took power. He served Dyersburg, Tennessee and was one of 12 American ministers, to be a Delegate to the World Methodist Conference Ministerial Exchange Hank exchanged pulpits with Rev. Reginald Mallett at the Albert Hall in Manchester, England. Following that ministry, Hank and Grace took the whole family on a camping trip in eleven countries in Europe in 1964. Hank served 12 years as District Superintendent of the Brownsville and Dyersburg Districts. He pastored Broadway United Methodist in Paducah, St. Luke’s United Methodist, Memphis, Tennessee, and First United Methodist Church in Paris, Tennessee. Hank served as Chairman of the Board of Education in the Memphis Annual Conference.
In 1974, Hank was Delegate to the Reopening of City Road Church in London, 1978 – Chair Delegate to The Christian Heritage in Government Conference in London, England, and 1980 – Delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Honolulu. Hank was a Junaluska Associate, Secretary of the Board of Trustees at Lambuth College for twelve years, a Board Member of the Methodist Hospital in Memphis and Dyersburg, Tennessee, and a Trustee of Dyersburg Housing Authority, Initiator of Wesley Homes of Dyersburg and Wesley Homes Tiptonville, Tennessee, a Charter Member of Reidland Lions Club, and a Member of the Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club. Hank was also a Kentucky Colonel, Duke of Paducah, and a Paducah Ambassador.
In September 1977, Hank and Grace bought a condo at Pinnacle Port in Panama City Beach, Florida. Since Hank’s retirement, he and Grace spend their winters in Panama City Beach and are active members at Gulfview Methodist Church. Hank has preached the Snowbird Sunday sermon there for years. The year Hank retired, he traveled and preached with Maranatha Campus Ministries, which was a university fellowship his children Rose and Bob Weiner and Rusty and Mildred Russell founded. He traveled with Maranatha Ministries and spoke at Parent’s Weekends in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea, and Japan with a week off to visit China. He also spoke at many university campuses in the United States. In 1992, Hank ministered in Finland and traveled and preached in Russia. Since his retirement, Hank has continued to preach revivals in many American churches over the years. Hank is Pastor Emeritus of Broadway United Methodist Church.
Dr. Russell is survived by his wife of 72 years, Grace Jarrell Williams Russell; his daughters, Margaret Peggy Russell Rudolph and husband Bill, of Decatur, AL, Rose Ellen Russell Weiner and husband Bob, of Gainesville, FL, Betty Grace Russell Houser and husband Philip, of Austin, TX; his sons, Henry E. Russell, III and wife Mildred, of Gainesville, FL, Dr. Stephen A. Russell, of Knoxville, TN; his grandchildren, Leigh Ellen Rudolph and husband Brad Atkins, Bill Stephen Rudolph and wife Amy, Stephanie Weiner and husband Andreas, John David Weiner, Evangeline Weiner and husband Brian Hooie, Catherine Grace Weiner, Jason Russell, Rebekah Russell, Cameron Russell and husband John Hurley, Madeline Russell, Katherine Ann Russell, Daniel Wiseman and wife Elisabeth • Christina Houser and husband Cory Colley, Dr. Philip Houser, and wife Ranelle, John Russell Houser, Taylor Houser, Elizabeth Houser. Great-Grandchildren: Jacob and Reagan Atkins, Julia and Preston Rudolph, Brittany and husband Carson Landers and Dillon Bullard, Liberty Grace, Judah Daniel, Jordyne Victoria Rose, and Avivah Joy Keller, Abigail Russell, Anabelle, Elijah, Ruby Jean Houser, London Taylor Hooie, Allison Jean and Grant Thomas Colley, and Henry Wiseman.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 am Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Broadway United Methodist Church, Paducah, Kentucky.
Service will be live streamed on <https://livestream.com/bumcmedia> The service will be available to watch online at any time after that.
Visitation will be held Saturday morning at the church, beginning at 10:00 am.
Burial will take place at 11:00 am Sunday, July 30, 2017, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Humboldt, TN.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Memory of Dr. Henry Ewell Russell to Broadway United Methodist Church Bell Tower Restoration. Broadway is on the National Historic Register and many great revivals have taken place here. Call Broadway United Methodist Church office (270) 443-2401, or send donations to Broadway United Methodist Church, 701 Broadway St., Paducah, Kentucky 42001.
Thanks to the staff and residents at Riverside Senior Living for their loving care, prayers, acceptance, and hospitality of Dr. Russell. Special thanks to Dr. Rodney Harvey for his excellent medical care and kindness to Hank, and prayers for Hank and our family.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah.
You may leave a message of condolence or light a candle of remembrance at www.milnerandorr.com.
