Bainbridge Island resident Rochester “George” Russell, 89, died March 9 at Island Health and Rehabilitation after a long illness.

He was born April 9, 1914 in Rochester, N.Y. After graduating from Binghampton High School he went on to study engineering at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania where he received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1939.

In February 1943, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, choosing that branch of the service because they had boots that were his size — the Army could not fit him. He became a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C.; from there he went to Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. He saw action on Iwo Jima, where he received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Before leaving active duty, he served in Tient Sin, China. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1974.

In 1946, he married Patricia Skinner of Bainbridge Island. They met on a blind date in Hawaii while George was recuperating from his injuries and where Pat was stationed in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserves. They returned to Bainbridge Island in 1948 where they raised three sons: Robert, Matthew and David.

George was a strong believer in publicly owned utilities, and worked for more than 35 years as a civil engineer for Seattle City Light working on hydroelectric projects throughout the region. Upon retirement, he served as a water commissioner for Kitsap County.

His interest in literature led him to be a leader of the first book club on Bainbridge, “Great Books.” He was active in the Boy Scouts, where he shared his love of the outdoors with his three young boys and the other members of Troop 573. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and dancing.

He was preceded in death by his sister Virginia Newkirk Braskerud of Seattle.

He is survived by his wife Pat; sons Robert and wife Jill of Bainbridge, Matthew and wife Kate of Billings, Mont., and David and wife Lisa of Seattle; grandchildren Janna and Jannell Russell of Bainbridge and Naomi Hubert of Suquamish, and nieces Gretchen LaGrange of New York, Mia Newkirk of Hawaii and nephew, Norman Newkirk of Seattle.

He will receive a military burial at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent; a memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home.