Ruth Ellen Russell, age 85, of Shelby, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at OhioHealth Hospital in Mansfield, surrounded by her loving family.

Ruth was born on January 4, 1941, in Crestline, Ohio, to the late Wilma (Schultz) Scheiber. She was a 1959 graduate of Newark High School. Not long after graduation, Ruth met the love of her life, Terry Russell, and the two were married on September 30, 1962. Together, they built a life centered around family, friendship, laughter, and a whole lot of love.

Ruth was a homemaker in every sense of the word, and she took great pride in caring for her family. She kept a beautiful home, prepared wonderful meals, and always seemed to know what everyone needed before they even asked. Her family never had to wonder if they were taken care of-Ruth made sure of it. She gave everything she had to the people she loved.

And then there was shopping.

Ruth loved to shop. In fact, shopping was her therapy, her entertainment, and quite possibly her favorite form of exercise. She could find a reason to go shopping just about any time, and she especially loved buying things for other people. Giving gifts was one of the ways she showed her love. Christmas shopping was not something Ruth waited until December to think about. She was the woman who had her holiday shopping done early-very early-and probably had a few gifts tucked away long before anyone else had even started making their list.

Ruth and Terry also enjoyed their years as snowbirds, spending their winters in Leesburg, Florida. Florida gave Ruth another opportunity to enjoy two of her favorite things: shopping and spending time with people she loved. Over the years, they made many wonderful friends there and created memories that became an important part of their lives. Ruth especially treasured the time she spent with her dear sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Russell. The two enjoyed their time together, and, naturally, many of those outings involved shopping. Some things never changed, no matter what state they were in.

Ruth spent many years supporting the Richland County Coon Hunters Club, where Terry had been involved since 1963. She was always willing to lend a hand and was especially known for the delicious homemade meals she prepared for club events. If there was an event, Ruth was likely helping behind the scenes, making sure people were fed and everything was taken care of. She had a gift for making people feel welcome-and making sure nobody left hungry.

Above all else, family was Ruth's greatest love.

She absolutely treasured her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her family was the center of her world, and having a strong, close-knit family was incredibly important to her. Her home was the gathering place-the place where everyone came together for holidays, meals, celebrations, and ordinary days that became special simply because everyone was there.

Ruth was always planning ahead. Before one holiday had even arrived, she was already thinking about the next one. She planned special meals, made lists, stocked the kitchen, and made sure she had everything she needed to take care of her family. She didn't simply host family gatherings; she made sure everyone felt cared for, comfortable, and loved.

That was Ruth's way.

She will be remembered for her generous heart, her strong personality, her love of shopping, her sweet tooth, her devotion to her family, and her ability to make a house feel like home. Her family will miss her deeply-the meals, the holidays, the shopping stories, the advice, the laughter, and even the things that occasionally made them shake their heads and smile.

She was survived by her son, Chuck (Ina) Russell; daughter, Kim (Gerald) Haney; grandchildren Cody (Christine Ture) Bland, Christy (Rody) Phelps, and Brandi (Joe) Rine; great-grandchildren, Alyson Rogers and David Rogers, Jolene Bland, Owen and Ethan Phelps, and Joey Rine; brother, Michael Scheiber, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Terry Russell in 2021; two sisters, Jeane Bricker and Betty Lou Weed; three brothers, Chuck, Dick, and Ronnie Scheiber; and dear sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Russell.

A graveside service will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Shiloh, Ohio on Monday, October 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Joseph Green officiating.

Online condolences may be made at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com.

The Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to assist the Russell Family with arrangements.