Herbert "Rusty" Russell, 89, passed peacefully at home in Farmington, NH, in the company of family, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Born in Medford, MA on March 16, 1936 to Clifford Russell and Irma (MacDonald) Russell (Tuells), he grew up in the Boston-area neighborhoods of Medford, Cambridge and Somerville.

He graduated from high school in 1953, and shortly thereafter joined the United States military by entering into the Air Force. It was at this time, during his first enlistment, that he married the love of his life, Evelyn Veino, on September 8, 1956. During his distinguished 20 year military career, Rusty served in several locations, including deployments overseas and to Alaska. In 1968, he received orders to relocate his family, which included 2 children, from Alaska to Michigan, for his last assignment, the Federal Building in Battle Creek, MI, where he was a Special Agent with the Air Force's OSI/DIS.

After retiring from the military in 1974, Rusty moved the family back East to New Hampshire, first settling in East Wakefield in 1975, then 6 years later relocating to Farmington. He continued to serve his country with his employment with the Department of Defense, working at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in several different capacities, eventually retiring from the Nuclear Engineering Department's Material Ordering Group in 1993, after 16 years of service.

Upon entering into retirement, Rusty and Evelyn began to enjoy traveling, spending many summers at their cottage in Martins Point, Nova Scotia, Canada… just a couple of miles from Oak Island. They also took cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska, a Western Wagon Train vacation, a Whitewater Rafting vacation, a 12000 mile driving vacation, wherein they visited all of the states they had not previously been to together, as well as several other "smaller" driving vacation trips. Rusty was proud to say he and Evelyn had done something not many get to do… visit all 50 states of our country, and the 10 provinces of Canada. Rusty also was very involved in genealogy, tracing the family's history back centuries… identifying connections with numerous historical figures. Rusty always enjoyed "the next adventure"… not always knowing where it would lead to or what it would entail. And, he loved sharing tales of adventures he and Evelyn had taken, as well as stories about camping and scouting, his time in the military, life in Alaska, and genealogy… for anyone who had some time to listen… which would typically take more than an hour!

Rusty had a strong appreciation, respect and love for our natural gifts… particularly for the natural beauty of our country, and especially for the wildlife. He raised his children to share this trait, and he also tried to pass it on to other children… and adults… while part of the Boy Scouts of America. This was during the time when the family lived in Michigan, where he was a committee/council member and Scoutmaster.

Rusty will be missed by all who knew him and is survived by his wife of almost 69 years, Evelyn Russell of Farmington; his son Scott Russell, and wife Jane, of Farmington; granddaughters Meghan Look (husband Christopher) of Bradford, ME, Brittni Poisson (husband Michael) of Mont Vernon, Kimberly Tessari (husband Rick) of Ossipee, and Kerri Guay of Manchester; grandson Devin Russell (wife Sonya) of Loudon; great-grandchildren Liam, Corran and Adria Look, Mary and Jordan Tessari, and Willa Poisson; sisters Joyce Killingsworth of Larkspur, CA and Wanda Andersen of Lunenberg, MA; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter Heather Russell (4/27/2010), sister Marcia (Tuells) Samuel (6/23/2022), niece Paula (Veino) Johnson (6/23/2002) and nephew Douglas Veino.

A Celebration of Life is planned for a date in July, and Rusty will eventually go to his final resting place in Martins River, Nova Scotia, Canada.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Tunnel to Towers (Link to T2T) or the Disabled American Veterans (Link to DAV) in Rusty's name.