Fredric Samuel Russ

Fredric Samuel Russ, known to most as Sam, was born on Saturday, December 25, 1954, in Bethesda, Maryland. The youngest born to Major William Mell Russ, Sr. USMC and Doris Lee (Levin) Russ. His brother was William "Butch" Mell Russ , Jr. and his sister, Leslie Kay Davis.

Sam was raised by a Marine and he spent his early years in Virginia and then Hawaii. Soon after, the family moved to Pinole, CA and ultimately were stationed at the Marine Base in Barstow, California. This is where Sam would form his childhood friendships that lasted his lifetime. Here he met his wife of fifty years, Roxanne and fell madly in love. They would raise their four daughters, Brandy, Celeste, Christella and Stephanie. Barstow was the background to a simple life. In grade school, Sam met Joe Israel and remained best friends ‘til the end. His parents, "Big Joe" and Faye “Louise,” Israel would become his second set of parents, guiding him and showing him great love. As a young teenager, Sam worked at Idle Spurs Steakhouse for Chuck and Jeanne O'Hara. Along with his parents, these figures formed what Sam affectionately referred to as his "Six-Pack of Life."

He was always proud of his work. Starting out at thirteen years old at Idle Spurs Steakhouse, Tomahawk Truck Stop, Santa Fe Railroad, Southern California Edison, Coolwater and the Solar II Plant. Sam would be offered an opportunity that would change his life forever. While working at the Solar II plant in Daggett, he was offered an Operations position working in Houston, Texas for Texaco. The family moved to Atascocita, Texas in 1998. This position would evolve into a career that allowed Sam to work domestically and internationally. From Texas, Delaware, Louisiana and Florida, Sam was given the opportunity to work in Senigallia, Italy and China and brought home many treasures for his entire family. He would later work for Chevron, General Electric and Duke Energy, which took him to Indiana.

Sam retired in 2015, and this allowed him to focus on building his home in Centerville, Texas with Roxanne. In the early years, they cleared much of the property by hand. Sam and Roxanne built a garden that would produce bounties of fruit and vegetables. They traveled often, visiting family and friends in California, Arizona and Nevada. He was a lover of nature. He had a keen eye for God's beauty, whether it be the landscape, the wildlife or the night sky; photographing everything he encountered. He loved to tinker and pick through antique stores for unique items. He loved a good puzzle or game and spent many years unraveling his family ancestry with his wife, brother, sister and daughters. Sam loved baseball and collected sports cards; a hobby that would enlist the work of his daughters. He loved making jewelry for his family from the turquoise he mined out of the Mojave Desert. He knew the desert like the back of his hand, having raced across it on his dirt bike or in an old pickup truck. Bar-B-Qing was a favorite activity later in life. Smoking brisket and making pastrami; sharing his methods with anyone who'd lend an ear. In the quiet moments, Sam would read his Bible and study God’s word.

At the end of his life, we can look back and see how good of a life it truly was. Through good times and hardships, he had his bride by his side through every season and storm. Their four daughters gave them ten grandchildren, who they love tremendously. When you zoom out, you see more than a great husband, father and grandfather. You see a man who appreciated beauty, gave his hand at creating his own and shared what he made and learned with those around him. He valued relationships more than anything this world could offer.

Surrounded by his family in his final days until his last moment with us on this side of eternity, Sam went home to our Lord and Savior on Monday, September 28, 2026.

John 11:25 - “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”

Sam was preceded in death by his father, William Mell Russ, Sr.; his mother, Doris Lee Russ; his brother, William "Butch" Mell Russ, Jr.; his brother-in-law, Carlos Enrique Moreno; and his father-in-law, Salvador Johnny Moreno.

He is survived by his wife, Roxanne Olivia Russ, as well as their first-born daughter, Brandy Kathleen Rider and her husband, R. Glenn Rider, and four of his grandchildren, Jacob William Rider, Joshua Glenn Rider, Ava Pearl Rider and Madeline Grace Rider; their second born daughter, Madeline Celeste Hale and her husband, Brian Keith Hale, and two of his grandchildren, Isaac Samuel Russ and Julia Annette Russ; their third born daughter, Christella Nicole Parks and her husband, Jacob Edwin Parks, and two of his grandchildren, Samuel Edwin Parks and Olivia Lucia Parks; their fourth born daughter, Stephanie Cheryl Russ and two of his grandchildren,  Elena Roxanne Perez and Nina Christella Perez; his sister, Leslie Kay Davis and her husband, Martin Davis; his nephews Taylor Russ and Eric Russ; his niece, Lucy Russ; his mother-in-law, Guadalupe Moreno; his brother-in-law, John Moreno; and his best friend, Joe Israel.

Services for Sam will be held at 2 P.M. on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas. He will be laid to rest in St. Leo the Great Cemetery, Centerville, Texas.

Psalm 4:8 - “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Final arrangements are entrusted to the direction of Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas -- A Walters Family Funeral Home.