Bufford Russell, age 94, passed away peacefully November 14, 2024, at Bickford of Worthington. Born in Marion, Ohio to the late William Russell and Rosa Lee Johnson in 1930, he went on to graduate from Marion Harding High School. He met Barbara Terry of Delaware, OH. They married in July 1954 in scenic Niagara Falls and spent many wonderful years together before Barbara’s tragic passing in 1991.
Bufford was known by his daughters as ‘the original girl dad’, because he was a proud father of his three daughters, Lynne, Teri and Marcia. At an early age, Bufford was known to be a tinkerer with the ability to fix anything, from home repairs to mechanical fixes. Bufford was a highly skilled and respected certified diesel mechanic at Fleet Service Garage for over twenty years and later at Commercial Lovelace. After retiring as a diesel mechanic, he accepted a position as the fleet manager for the General Telephone Company. After retiring, yet again, Bufford accepted another position with the Marion County Engineers Department. Bufford’s ultimate dream was to own a farm, and upon retiring from the Marion County Engineer’s Department he settled into farming- taking great joy in watching 40 acres of soybeans grow season after season. Bufford was dedicated to his Christian faith and support of his childhood church – Quinn Chapel AME Church.
Bufford is preceded in death by his parents, William and Rosa Lee, his wife, Barbara, his brothers, William Russell Jr., Larry Russell, James Russell, and Richard Russell, his sisters, Myrtle Lee Sterling and Edith Nunnally.
He leaves behind to remember him his daughters, Lynne Smith, Teri (Otis) Steward, and Marcia (Karen) Houston, his sister, Roberta Jones, his dear companion Mary Martin, his grandchildren, Jason Turner, John Turner, III, Cameron Houston, Linda (Gary) Webb, and Lisa (Kobe) James, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place at Boyd Funeral Home, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 11a – 1p followed by a Celebration of Life service at 1p. A committal service will take place at Chapel Heights immediately following the funeral service. Boyd Funeral Home is honored to care for the Russell family in their time of need.
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