Obituary of Gardner Hale Russell

Gardner Hale Russell, 92, passed away on Monday, November 19, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 12, 1920, to Harry and Agnes Russell in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gardner served for the U.S. Army, G-2, M.I.S. during World War II as Executive for Intelligence to the Military Attaches in the U.S. Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico. He was a successful entrepreneur and owner of several businesses while living in Puerto Rico for 20 years, and worked as a business consultant based in Florida from 1973 until the day he passed away. Gardner co-owned and marketed Vu-Flow Filters. He was an advisor to several Boards of Directors and Trustees including Southern Virginia University, Institute of Management Consultants CMC, Presbyterian Hospital in Puerto Rico, F.I.T. Aviation, Florida Tech, and Synergy Environmental Company. Gardner was Co-Founder of Inter-American University Law School and organized IAU Primary and Secondary Education Schools. He was Co-Organizer for Fundet training schools throughout Latin America. Active in local and national politics, Gardner was an elected member of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee and Brevard County Chairman for Paula Hawkins, Senator. Gardner authored 4 books: "One Small Rough Stone" (Auto-Biography), "The Effective Entrepreneur and How to Make the Bad Guys Finish Last," "Timely Heroes," and "Fishing Cleanses the Soul." He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities including as a missionary in Argentina (1940-42), Mission President in Uruguay/Paraguay (1970-73), Bishop , Regional Representative, and served in Mexico and Central America in the Quorums of the Seventy as a General Authority. (1986-91). Gardner will always be remembered as a man with a compassionate heart, an easy laugh, and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. As he said, "Life is all about service, everything else is just talk." Survivors include his beloved wife of 62 years, Dorothy (Richardson), children; Sheryl Russell, Kathy Russell, Bryan (Peggy) Russell, and Jana (Bruce) Hoppe, brother; Erwin Russell, 14 grandchildren; Alexandra, Alysson, Stacy, Jessi, Melanie, Jeff, Brittney, Rick, Jordan, Logan, Michelle, Kyle, Kristin, Jared , and 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 23, 2012 from 6-8pm at Beach Funeral Homes 1889 S Patrick Dr., Indian Harbour Beach. A memorial service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1801 South Fiske Boulevard, Rockledge, Florida on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 10am. Another memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2012, at 10am at the Salt Lake Ensign Stake Center, 135 "A" Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gardner's name to Sally's House, care of Prevent of Brevard, 1948 Pineapple Avenue, Melbourne Florida 32935.