By Staff
DERBY, Kan. — Cherry, Russell, age 84, was born March 31, 1923 in Washington, N.C., the son of the late James and Sudie Melinda (Roberson) Cherry, died Friday, November 23, 2007 of heart failure complicated by pneumonia in Wichita, Kan. Russell attended Washington High School from 1937 to 1939, joined the U.S. Army in 1940 and served in the European Theater of Operations until the end of WWII in 1945. He left the service and returned to Washington to finish high school and work on the family farm. Again he heard the call to duty and joined the Army Air Corps/United States Air Force in 1946 and served at various stateside and European bases until full military retirement in 1973. After his retirement the family settled in Derby, Kan. where he was a member of the police force from 1975 to 1983. His primary mission on the police force was involvement with children’s safety programs. Russell continued to serve his community through many volunteer programs including Meals on Wheels, Derby Masonic Lodge and was past president of the Derby Lions Club serving from 1993 to 1994. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings. Russell is survived by his adored wife of 61 years, Ella Dorothy; daughters, Danya (James) Tomlinson, Seattle, Wa., Melinda (Mark) Phillips, Carrollton, Texas; son, Russ Cherry, Derby; granddaughters, Ericka Cherry, Derby, JoAnn Gandolfi, Dallas Texas; grandson, Ryan Cherry, Derby; great grandson, Adrian Cherry, Wichita; and his beloved poodle, Sophie. Visitation was from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7; services were at 2 p.m. Thursday, all at Smith Mortuary Chapel, 1415 North Rock Road, Derby, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Derby Lions Club or the Va. transition of Life Center, c/o Robert J. dole, Medical Center, Wichita, KS. Send condolences via smithfamilymortuaries.com