MILLINOCKET and HAMPDEN – Roland L. Russell, 76, a Korean War veteran and retired Great Northern Paper Co. manager, died peacefully Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at the Maine Veterans Home, Bangor. He was born June 7, 1934, in Millinocket, son of Earl and Bertha (Pratt) Russell.
He grew up poor yet through hard work and perseverance he pursued his education, married the love of his life, and sent his three kids to college. “Rollie” graduated from Stearns High School in 1951. After graduation he was hired as a swiper – the lowest-ranking job in the Millinocket mill – clearing paper from underneath the paper machines. Upon turning 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War. After the war, he returned to his job at the mill and joined the Maine Army National Guard. He was commissioned as an officer in 1960 upon graduation from Maine Military Academy, Augusta. He retired from the Guard with the rank of captain in 1975. In 1958, he met Patricia Farnham, a soon-to-be college student who was working as a waitress at the coffee shop his older brothers owned in downtown Millinocket. Rollie and Pat married in 1962, settled in town and started a family. He was elected to Millinocket Board of Selectmen in 1965 and at the time of his service was the youngest-ever member elected to the board. At the paper mill, Rollie worked his way up the ranks, finally reaching the position of human resources manager, a job he loved and for which he was well suited. He was respected by both the company’s blue-collar and white-collar workforces for being tough, but fair. Rollie enjoyed spending time with his extended family in Millinocket and at his camp on North Twin Lake. He took special delight in his children and their friends, attending school plays, band and chorus concerts, Stearns athletic events, and officiating basement poker games for his sons, who nicknamed him “The Silver Fox” because of his crafty negotiating skills and distinctive head of prematurely gray hair.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Earl Jr., John and Willis; sisters, Idella Glidden, Janet Bryant and Faye Guillow; an infant daughter, Catherine; and daughter-in-law, Beth (Henry) Russell. Surviving, in addition to his wife, Patricia (Farnham) Russell of Hampden and Millinocket, are a sister, Earlene Sawyer of Millinocket; sons, Jeff Russell of Hampden, and Andrew Russell and his wife, Carla, of Kennebunk; daughter, Margaret Russell Ewalt and her husband, David, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; four grandchildren, Thomas Russell, Alison Russell, Meg Russell and Kate Russell; many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the staff at Maine Veterans Home and especially to his devoted special caregivers, Mike, Jasmine and Pauline.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at First Congregational Church, 274 Katahdin Ave., Millinocket. A reception will be immediately after the service, with an interment service after that at Millinocket Cemetery. Those who wish to remember Rollie in a special way may make gifts in his memory to First Congregational Church, 274 Katahdin Ave., Millinocket, ME 04462 or Alzheimer’s Association-Maine, 170 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth, ME 04105.