Russell Leon Bethell

Russell Leon Bethell, 71, of Eufaula, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2019. Russell was born on July 25, 1948 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Wilburn Lincoln and Reba Verdel (Lee) Bethell. He attended Junior High and High School in Russellville, Arkansas. Russell played basketball and football during his junior high and high school years, and won the 1964 JHS State Championship. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 2, 1968 and retired on August 1, 1988. In 1990, Russell married Sandra Jean Kelly. They were happily married for twenty-nine years. He worked as a machinist at Tinker Air Force. Russell was a member of the Eufaula VFW Post 8798. He was an avid fan of the OU Sooners and the Arkansas Razorbacks. He enjoyed watching football and basketball and fishing. He was a member of the Little Baptist Church in Little, Oklahoma. Survivors include: his wife, Sandra "Sandy" Bethell, of the home; daughter, Tracie Bethell; son, Aaron Bethell, both of Russellville, AR; step sons: Tim Daughtry and wife Aimee of Owasso, and Tom Daughtry of Sperry, OK; sisters: Donna Cooper and husband Lynn, of Cabot, AR; Sherry Sparrow and husband David of Alabama; his grandchildren Whitley Smith, Sydney Bethell, Trystan, Katelyn, Taylar and Tatum Daughtry and Zac Culbertson; his nieces and nephews, Shane and Grenda Scheid and one daughter, Madison; David Sparrow, Jr., wife Jacklyn and their three children; Cindy and Mark Nickel; Debbie Schmidt and her two children and Summer Reed Green and her daughter, Taylor. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilburn Lincoln and Reba Verdel Bethell, his brother, Wilburn L. Bethell, Jr. and his sister, Janet Williams.