Russell Lee Maxwell

Russell Lee Maxwell, age 95 (plus 364 days), of Albuquerque, New Mexico moved to his new home with his Savior on Saturday, March 6, 2021.

Russell was born in Fort Collins, Colorado on March 7, 1925, to Ray and Ethie Maxwell.  He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; one sister; and a daughter, Karen Mumbower  (Ron).  He is survived by the love of his life of 69 years, Mae E. Maxwell (fondly called Maisie) and by a brother, Floyd Maxwell and a sister, Roine Schmidt; daughter, Cheryl Ghanbari (Faraj); son-in-law, Ron Mumbower (Kathy); son, Gary Maxwell (Carolyn); daughter, Shirley Campbell (Danny); son, Dale Maxwell (Niki); 11 grandchildren, Roushan Ghanbari (Josh), Zahra Ghanbari (Ray); Ryan Mumbower (Courtney), Alan Mumbower (Stephanie), Evan Mumbower (Mina), Landon Mumbower (Rachael); Alicia Steadman (Nathan), Michelle O’Neil (Max), Aaron Campbell (Renee), Kevin Campbell (Maggie), and Daniel Campbell; and 10 great-grandchildren, Wesson, Corinne, Molly Karen, Mason, Aiden, Adelaide, Melody, Logan, Sarah, and Levi.

Russell grew up in Bellvue, Colorado, on a dairy farm.  After graduating from LaPorte high school he served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific theatre.  He attended Colorado State University, utilizing the GI bill, where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  After Russell and Mae were married, he worked for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. for almost 40 years.  Russell was in the very first group of engineers at Sandia to be recognized as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff, the highest technical honor awarded to engineers at that time.

In his spare time Russell enjoyed numerous hobbies including tent camping with family, raising honeybees, restoring Subaru 360’s and doing wood-working projects, some of which he was working on just a few days before his death.

Russell and family attended Sandia Baptist Church in Albuquerque for about 6 decades.

Russell’s story does not end here.  We will see him again in our heavenly home, where no doubt he is already creating a new line of wooden toys for the great grands or rebuilding a Subaru 360 just for the joy of it!

Russell will be buried with full military honors at Santa Fe National Cemetery.