Elder Gardner H. Russell, who served in the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy from 1986 to 1991, passed away on Nov. 19, in Florida. He was 92.
He was sustained on April 6, 1986, as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy where he served in many capacities within the Church. He served in his first assignment for three years as second counselor in the Mexico Central America Area Presidency until he was assigned to the Second Quorum of the Seventy and as first counselor in the North America Southeast Area. He served as Assistant Executive Director of the Priesthood Department, and later was first counselor in the Central America Area.
Prior to his call to the Seventy, he served as a Regional Representative and as president of the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission from 1970-73. As a young man, he served in Argentina as a missionary for 34 months. After he completed his mission he worked in U.S. embassies in Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica.
His professional life — he owned various manufacturing companies — took him and his family to Puerto Rico for more than 20 years. While there, he was a part of and saw much growth in the Church. He served as the first president of the Caribbean District, saw the establishment of the first branch in San Juan, welcomed the first missionaries and in 1970 saw the first chapel dedicated.
Upon his call to the Seventy, Elder Russell said in an interview reported in the Ensign magazine, "My long love affair with Latin America resumes with this call to the First Quorum of the Seventy." That continued all his life.
Elder Russell is survived by his wife, Dorothy, their four children, 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. — Marianne Holman
