IRMO, SC — Funeral service for Rodney Jennings Russell Sr., 75, will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 7, 2009, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, with burial following in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will begin prior to the service at 1 p.m. Mr. Russell died November 4, 2009. Born April 25, 1934, in Florence, he was a son of the late Robert Rowland and Mary Rogers Russell Sr. He attended Clemson and graduated from U.S.C. with a Master’s in Education Administration. For 10 years he taught at Dreher High School, retiring from Irmo High School after 22 years. On April 21, 1956, he married Norma Caldwell Russell of Laurens. He was a member of Eau Claire Presbyterian Church and a charter member of Westminster and Seven Oaks Presbyterian Churches. He served in the S.C. Air National Guard for eight years and was an Eagle Scout and an avid hunter and fisherman. Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Norma of Columbia; daughter, Robin Russell Byrd and fiance, Ray Harris, Lake Norman, N.C.; son, Rodney J. Russell Jr., Kershaw; brother, Bob Russell, Columbia; nephew, Robert R. “Rip” Russell III; niece, Rebecca Rene Russell, both of Charleston; granddog, Diva. Rodney also leaves behind many friends. He was truly a gentle man. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society , 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210 or the American Heart Assoc., 520 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201. A special thanks to the staff at Tri County Hospice and Nancy Geib, Judy Keith and Johnnie Mae Wells for their loving care during his long illness. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com. Published in The State Newspaper, Columbia, SC on November 5, 2009