Cynthia Williams Russell
October 6, 1924 – November 17, 2010
Cynthia Williams Russell, the loving wife of Thomas S. Russell Sr., and the wonderful mother of four sons, died on November 17, 2010. While Cynthia was born in Pasadena, CA, on October 6, 1924, her home was all around the US, being the daughter of a naval officer, and her love of travel continued through her life. She graduated from Sidwell Friends in Washington DC, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Washington University. She met Tom in Washington, DC on a blind date, and they got married four years later, in 1949. From there, they moved to Blacksburg, VA. When Tom accepted a professorship at Washington State University in 1956, they moved to Pullman, Washington, where they raised their sons.
Cynthia had a strong conviction that part of being a good mother was being a member of the community. She was active in the Episcopal Church Women and on the vestry of St. James Church, in the Pullman PTA, Kappa Kappa Gamma and the Republican Party. As a member of St. James, she helped with a number of the rummage sales, seeing them grow from the basement of the church to an annual Pullman event held at the basketball arena. She and Tom hosted Republican Party caucuses at their house and she represented the district at the state convention. She and Tom were part of a long-standing bridge club, fondly remembered by her boys because they got to taste all of the desserts.
Cynthia moved to Bainbridge Island in 2006 to be with one of her sons and their family, and found a new loving community in Grace Episcopal Church and the people at Winslow Manor. The Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of B.I. and the B.I. Visually Impaired Persons Support Group helped her continue her active life.
Cynthia taught her sons to cook, sew, and clean; to be both frugal and generous; the joy of political debate; to know where the high cards are, and when to pull trump; and to be active citizens in their communities. Her daughters-in-law often say that her greatest gift to them was being such a great mother.
Cynthia is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law: Thomas Jr. and Sharon of Chicago, Christopher and Mary Kay of Bainbridge, Armistead and Jerri of Atlanta and Keith and Tomoko of Japan, six grandchildren: Kathi Polinski, and William James, Samantha, William Xavier, Kurt, and Bradley; her sisters Jan Clark and Florence Hammond; her brother Charles Williams III, and her sister-in-law Nora Gray Dickens.
A celebration of Cynthia’s life is planned for December 18th at Grace Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of B.I., P.O. Box 11253, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; or the Bainbridge Visually Impaired Persons Support Group, P.O. Box 11464, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-1395.
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