Park, Russell Martin also known as Papa Russ to his
grandchildren, was born the Irish son of Rosa and Ira Park January 27, 1939 in
Brookville, Pennsylvania, and was the older brother of Jack Park.
In his hometown of Brookville, he is fondly known as “Russie,”
the namesake of the popular local grocery store, “Russie’s Market,” owned
by his family. In Brookville,
“Russie” is greatly remembered as a gregarious, book smart, and outgoing
friend and classmate who actively participated in school play productions, and
the high school band where he played the clarinet and served as band chaplain.
However, Russie could often be found after school hours in the classroom
of physics and chemistry teacher “Doc” Howard Gayley, whom Russie greatly
admired as a mentor and educator, influencing him throughout his life.
After graduating with honors from Brookville High School in
1956, Russ went on to attend Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, where
he was a pre-med student and member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
He became a member of the United States Air Force in 1958, was stationed
out of Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, and served in military intelligence in
Okinawa. He was then transferred to
Fairfield AFB, Vacaville, California until 1962.
He married Maria Estela Sanchez, September 2, 1961 at
Fairfield AFB, and had their firstborn daughter, Carmen Lucia (Park) Bright,
July 2, 1962, when they lived in Petaluma, California.
Russ worked for Wells Fargo Bank in San Rafael, California, then moved to
Rohnert Park, California, returning to Sonoma State College to complete his
Bachelors of Science in Biology 1968, researching the anatomy of the marsupial
heart. He also became the proud dad
of a second daughter, Carla Luisa (Park) Wirths, July 13, 1967.
He would become a biology teacher, but then began his
pursuit of his Master’s Degree in Biology at Idaho State University.
He transferred to his beloved University of Kansas, where he was proud to
be a Jayhawk, and had been awarded a grant to conduct mammalian heart research
under the tutelage of Dr. E. Raymond Hall. Russ and his family moved from
Lawrence to Chenute, Kansas, where he was a Food and Drug Inspector for the
state of Kansas for eleven years and eventually transferred to Wichita, Kansas.
Her served the southeast territory of Kansas, where the highways and back
roads offered him the sanctuary of the open Kansas skies and expansive prairies
where he loved to drive with the wind in his face and follow the flights of a
solitary hawk.
Russ then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he married
Mary Ann Park (deceased). He
received his Master’s Degree in Adult and Higher Education from the University
of Texas at San Antonio. In between
teaching jobs and prior to his position at Navarro College, Russ was once a road
manager for professional pool player, “Fast Eddie” Felson, the inspiration
for Paul Newman’s “The Color of Money.”
Philosopher, Educator, naturalist, numerous storyteller, father,
grandfather, Papa Russ passed quietly into the hands of the Lord early in the
morning of May 3, 2005 from complications of lung and brain cancer at Dallas
Methodist Hospital, with his daughter, Carmen, and her husband, Brad, at his
side. He had never sought treatment
for his ailment, philosophically choosing to live his life to its fullest extent
and allowing nature to take its course. In
addition to a lifetime of memories, Russ’s final contribution was as a corneal
and eye donor.
Papa Russ is lovingly survived by his proud daughters,
Carmen L. Bright, University Park, Texas; Carla L. Wirths, Wichita, Kansas;
Grandchildren: Holly Bright, Sydney
Bright, Winslow Bright, Chandler Bright, and Trenton Bright in University Park,
Texas, and Greysin Wirths, Wichita, Kansas; Bradford L. Bright, son-in-law, University
Park, Texas; ex-wife, Estella Maturk, Aunt “Top” Margaret (Park) Larson (who
at 90 years old says “Russie was always a good kid”), and cousin, Peggy Ann
Sexton, Girard, Pennsylvania and Bert and David Larson, cousins; niece, Laurel
Park; and cousins Ginni Ricci, Petaluma, California, and her siblings.
Special thanks to his students of Navarro College, and
teaching colleagues, Tom Hammargran, Dr. Larry Weaver, and Tom Vance, whose
“Wooly Mammoth Excavation Project” was a dream come true for Russ.
Heartfelt thanks to Bradford L. Bright who, like a son, graciously gave
Pap Russ his love, care, and good cooking.
Papa Russ will be missed at University Park and Highland Park, Texas,
school and sporting events where he was a proud fan of his grandchildren.
Services will be held at University Park United Methodist
Church, 4024 Caruth at Preston Road, University Park, TX, Friday, May 6, 2005;
11:30 a.m., Lee Elliot, HPHS senior, will provide a bagpipe Highlander send off
as a tribute to the grand spirit of Papa Russ.
Russell Martin Park will be officially interred at
Dallas-Fort Worth
National Cemetery with full military honors the same day at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers Carmen and Carla request you consideration of
donations in honor of their father, Russ Park, to the Navarro College Foundation
Faculty Scholarship Fund, 3200 W. 7th Avenue, Corsican, Texas
75110. Dignity Memorial
Sparkman Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas (214) 363-5401.
Source: Dallas Morning News, May 5, 2005.
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