Russell Everett Fisher

Russell Everett Fisher, 90, of Rocky Mount, Virginia, passed away Saturday, October 18, at his home. Russell graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1940 with a B.S. in Agricultural Education. He taught school for over 40 years, beginning in Nansemond County, Virginia, in 1940; he retired in 1983, following 20 years in Roanoke City Public Schools. His summers for many years were spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where he worked as a Naturalist for the U.S. Park Service. Russell was an experienced beekeeper, having started with his first hive in his teen years. He was a former President of the Virginia State Beekeepers Association, and was a member of both the Blue Ridge Mountain (Roanoke) and Southwest Piedmont (Collinsville) Beekeepers Associations. He still maintained several hives of bees on his deck just outside his bedroom. Russell was a long-time member of the Fairview Church of the Brethren, near Rocky Mount, where he taught Sunday School and served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He had also served as Moderator of the Boones Chapel Church of the Brethren at Snow Creek. Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Taz and Lydia Ikenberry Fisher, and brothers and their wives, Clarence and Lucille, Horace and Stella, and Herman and Pauline. Russell loved his family. Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Frances Agee Fisher, of the home; children Everett, of Arlington; Danny, of Boones Mill; and Jill Bass, of Vinton (Bedford County); grandchildren David Bass, Amanda Bass, Dawn and Mark Lambert, and Lori Fisher; great grandchildren Cameron, Allison, and Morgan Lambert, and a very dear family friend, Grady Woodard. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Russell always enjoyed having guests in his home. He was fortunate to have many wonderful friends and neighbors, especially Alvah and Rebecca Preston, who helped in so many ways, and Dr. Steve Lewis, who helped to maintain his bee hives. Over the past year, he was grateful for the kindness and attention of caregivers from Home Instead and Good Samaritan Hospice, from personal caregivers, and from devoted neighbors. The family is especially thankful for caregivers Laura Saxon, Betty Furrow, Danny Bowles, Doris Davis, and Betty Hodges for their day and night care for so long. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday, October 19, 2008, with his family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., at Flora Funeral Home, 665 South Main Street, Rocky Mount. The funeral service will be Monday, October 20, at 11 a.m., at Fairview Church of the Brethren, located 4.5 miles west of Rocky Mount on Franklin Street (VA Route 40), with the Rev. Robert Williard and Chaplain Marvin Barbre officiating. Interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fairview Church of the Brethren, c/o Tommy Young, 60 Belmont Drive, Rocky Mount VA 24151. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service, Rocky Mount.