of Sherwood, AR

June 13, 1929 - November 4, 2019

Oscar Garland Russell, Jr., age 90, of Sherwood, AR, died Nov. 4, 2019. He was born on June 13, 1929 in Ellsworth, AR to Oscar G. Russell, Sr. and Florence Thomas Russell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, J. D. Hardcastle; his sister, Lois Earline Russell; his half-brother John Paul Hardcastle and his step-brother DeWitt C. Russell.

He is survived by his wife, Reba Lynn Russell; his children, David Owen Russell (Debbie) and Catherine Hall (Stanley); his brother, Donald E. Russell; his grandsons, Jared David Russell (Leslie), Jordan Michael Russell (Tessa), Alexander Ray Hall; and five great grandchildren.

His mother married Rev. J.D. Hardcastle in 1939 and the couple became pastors of the Full Gospel Temple church on Washington Ave. in North Little Rock. Going forward, service to God was one of the most important aspects of Oscar's life. He played the guitar and sang at church and in the Temple Quartet that was featured in a weekly radio broadcast for many years.

A 1947 graduate of North Little Rock High School, he was married In 1949 to Reba Lynn Faulk, whom he met at church, and the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary earlier this year.

He became a Claims Representative with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the Little Rock office. He was reassigned to Pine Bluff for two years, promoted to Field Representative and transferred to Helena, AR for four years. At the time of his retirement from federal service in February 1985, he was the assistant district manager of the SSA office in Forrest City, AR.

On another level, he published a national newsletter for the SSA District Management Association for 10 years, a venture he started with his son. For four years, he was a partner in a full-service drug store in Forrest City where he was president of the Lions Club and active in many civic organizations.

After his retirement from SSA, he became Executive Director with the National Guard Association of Arkansas (NGAA). He earned his certification as a professional association executive and later he completed the educational requirements to become a licensed insurance agent. Two of his most significant accomplishments at NGAA were the creation of a scholarship program established in 1987 and the completion of a modern office facility at Camp Robinson in 1989.

Oscar often had two or even three income sources because he liked to turn his hobbies into businesses. In 1990 he became very involved in genealogy and eventually published some 30 books of information about death notices in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. These volumes were marketed to libraries and genealogical collections across the country.

In 1948 he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard as a private in Ambulance Company, 125th Medical Battalion. Four years later he was a Sergeant First Class and was promoted in 1952 to Second Lieutenant. He served during the Central High integration crisis along with other members of the Arkansas Guard. He was assigned to numerous staff and command positions over the years and rose to the rank of full Colonel. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His career in the Guard concluded as Commander, 87th Troop Command headquartered at Camp Robinson comprised of 17 units with 3,500 soldiers. His retirement was effective in June 1985 after 37 years.

Oscar had many hobbies ranging from leather-work to hand-carved gun stocks. He fished and hunted for about 15 years before his leisure time was soaked up by other activities. He learned to knit and crochet, earning blue ribbons at the St. Francis County fair. For years he maintained a well-equipped woodworking shop, making a variety of items for friends and family.

A long-time member of First Assembly of God North Little Rock, Oscar began producing the weekly bulletin for the Challenger Sunday School class in September of 2003 and continued faithfully in this role until last year. About the same time he became involved in visitation outreach to those in area hospitals and later transitioned to visiting the shut-ins who were unable to come to church. This too he continued until just last year.

Arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Owens Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at Roller-Owens on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 from 5-7 p.m. A funeral service will be held Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 at 10 a.m. at First Assembly of God church in North Little Rock, AR. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Cemetery, at 2 p.m. in Shady Grove, AR.

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