A memorial service for Russell Wayne Shipwash, 68, of Harleton, Texas will be held at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home, with the Reverend Craig Evers and Reverend David Nelson officiating.

Russell was born on March 1, 1956, in Longview, Texas to Floyd and Mildred Shipwash and passed away on August 9, 2024, in Harleton, Texas.

He graduated from Marshall High School in 1974. While working at McDonalds he met the love of his life that he later married and spent forty-nine wonderful years together. He knew that he needed to provide for a family and started working at E.B. Hayes Machinery in Marshall. Then later went to work for Applied Industrial Technology for thirty-four plus years, retiring in 2019.

He loved being outdoors, hunting, fishing, hummingbird watching, relaxing at the beach, and building porch swings. His indoor hobby that he loved and spent many hours was his coin collection. He was meticulous with it, spending many hours organizing them in designated notebooks. He loved looking at the history of each coin. While in the house playing cards/games with family he also loved listening to a variety of music. Music was always a big part of his life too. It also should be mentioned that he loved his furry pets, Smoky and Tennessee. Family and fun were very important to him. Watching his grandkids play sports was also a big part of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Mildred Shipwash; his maternal grandparents, J P and Tessie Byrd; father and mother-in-law, Reverend Merrell Brooks and Jessie Mae Brooks and nephew, Justin Heck.

He is survived by the love of his life, Debbie Shipwash; daughters, Kelley Shipwash of Harleton and Jessica Johnson of Harleton; grandsons, Cameron Johnson and Kayden Johnson; brother, James Shipwash and wife, Anita of Marshall; sister, Tessie Coleman and husband, Doug of Longview; brother in law, David Brooks of Corpus Christi; nephews, Travis Heck and Eric Shipwash and niece, Meagan Morse along with great nephews and nieces, many cousins and other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Russell has always been touched by this Hospital and the work they are doing. It was his desire to give to them and encourage others to do so as well.