Edith Mary Russ

Edith Mary Russ (1928-2024)

EDITH MARY RUSS passed away Thursday September 12, 2024, nearly completing her 96th year of life. She was born September 23, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to William George and Edith Cairnes Ross. She grew up in the suburb of Somerton and in Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from the Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University). Industry reluctance to hire a female college graduate led her to take courses in shorthand and typing, which led Edith to build a career as a secretary, first for General Electric in Philadelphia, and then for the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Forces in Europe, in Weisbaden, Germany. While in Germany, she took the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe. She transferred to the Air Force Academy while it was being established in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she witnessed the first graduating class. She was then transferred to Ottawa, Ontario. On December 29, 1960, she married Edward Russ, who was on the Civil Engineering faculty at Ohio University, and she lived in Athens for the remainder of her life. 

She gave birth to two sons, Andrew Cairnes Russ (October 1962) and Keith Mitchell Russ (January 1964-June 2004). She was also predeceased by her parents, her sister Jessie Ryno of Slatington Pennsylvania, and brother William Ross of Wilmington, Delaware. She is survived by her husband Edward, son Andrew of Athens, Ohio, daughter-in-law Kathy Kirmse of Gainesville, Florida, and granddaughter Jessica Russ of Tampa, Florida. 

She was a dedicated crafter, creating works in many forms, including flowers and angels from tin cans, tatted stationery, stained glass decorations, plastic canvas miniature houses, and more. She was well-known locally for creating angels from repurposed thread spools, staircase balusters, and other pieces of turned wood. More recently she took to crocheting 383 afghan blankets, the vast majority donated to Covered With Love, who distributed them to children’s hospitals across the country (See Athens Messenger story from July 20, 2024). 

She was also involved with the local chapter of sorority Beta Sigma Phi, Athens Friends and Neighbors (AFAN), the Ohio University Women’s Club, and the Ohio University Emeriti Association, at one time editing the newsletter. She was also very involved with genealogy, compiling a history of the Russ, Ross, and related families covering more than a half dozen volumes and stretching as far back as the 17th Century. 

Per her wishes, there will be no viewing or funeral service. A private burial will occur at a later date. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hughes Funeral Home in Athens, OH.

PHOTO CAPTION: Edie Russ in her home, June 2024, with an assortment of afghans she had crocheted. Photo by Larry DiGiovanni.