William F. “Bill” Russell, age 73, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer on December 7, 2010, in McKinney, Texas. Bill was born August 16, 1937, in Dover Delaware, to Ralph Clinton and Mildred Carolyn (Mitchell). He married Christa Johnson on January 22, 1956, in Plymouth, Connecticut. Bill entered the United States Air Force in 1956 and retired in 1979. He worked for the civil service for a number of years after retiring from the United States Air Force. Bill and his wife moved to a retirement community, called Betmar Acres, in Zephyrhills, Florida, where he was active in the community golf and tennis clubs. He was instrumental in assisting the tennis club with the construction of two tennis courts. He is survived by his wife, Christa Russell of Zephyrhills, Florida; daughters, Kathleen Hayes and husband, Alan of Corinth, Texas and Cheryl Louthan and husband, Pat of McKinney, Texas; sons, Ronald Russell and wife, Kathryn of Omaha, Nebraska and Robert Russell and wife, Laura of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandsons, Ryan Hayes, Jason Hayes, Patrick Russell, Jake Russell, Ben Kragt, and Jake Louthan; granddaughters, Lindsy Kragt, Amanda Kragt, and Crista Louthan; sister-in-law, Nancy Nyren and husband, Roy; and brother-in-law, Leonard Johnson and wife, Lani. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Patricia. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 10, 2010, at Chambersville United Methodist Church in Chambersville, Texas. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the following organizations: Visiting Nursing Association (VNA)/Hospice, www.vnatexas.org, Caring Bridge, P. O. Box 6032, Albert Lea, MN, 56007-6632 for William (Bill) Russell, or Betmar Tennis Club, 37145 Lakewood Dr., Zephyrhills, FL, 33542.