Russell Lee Stein

LAWN: Russell Lee Stein, 73, passed away in his home on April 12, 2016 with his wife by his side. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2016 at Lawn Baptist Church, Kenneth Jordan officiating, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. Burial, with military honors, will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery. A visitation for Russell will be held on Thursday, April 14 at Lawn Baptist Church from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Russell was born to Orville and Elenor (Thompson) Stein on August 26, 1942 in Madison Wisconsin. He attended schools in Wisconsin and graduated from Holmen High School. Russell heard the call of the military and in 1963, he enlisted in the United State Air Force.

Russell attained the rank of Master Sergeant while serving in the Air Force. During his twenty-one year career, he spent most of his time in SAC (Strategic Air Force Command) as a strategic aircraft maintenance technician. Russell spent five years serving his country overseas, which included tours in Vietnam. He retired from the air force in 1984 at Dyess Airf Force Base in Abilene, and decided to call Abilene home. Russell spent the next ten years working for the United State Post Office.

Russell made it no secret that he loved cars, any kind of car or truck. He was always buying, fixing, or selling some sort of a motor vehicle. The only car that he refused to trade was a beloved 1928 Bugatti VW Kit Car. It was through a mutual friend and a car deal that he met his wife Tena.

Russell sold Tena Scoggins one of his many cars, but this car had one Mercury and one Ford tail light. Deciding that he needed to make the wrong of this two-taillight car a right, he married Tena on March 20, 1993 in Abilene, it was on this day that the love of his life became his wife, and her family became his family. Russell did not believe in the word “step” and he loved her kids as his own. During their marriage, Russell never used the term “no” to Tena or their children.

Russell also enjoyed collecting just about anything and everything from coins, watches to HO gauge trains, Russell’s interest always brought a laugh and smile to the family. When it was possible, he and Tena enjoyed a quick trip away. Russell never met a stranger and loved to visit with everyone he met.

He and Tena moved to Lawn in 2014, to be in the country and for their grandchildren to have a place to play, and true to form, it did not take long for Russell to meet the people of Lawn.

Russell is survived by his wife of 23 years, Tena Stein of Lawn; sons, Chris and Cynthia Lindley of Abilene; David Simmons of Lawn; Lucky and Olivia Simmons of Garland.; Thomas Stein of Beaumont; daughters, Erin and Donald Day of Abilene; Sandra and Rusty Miller of Tuscola; Teresa and Mike Shirley of Katy; sister, Jeanie Wallace of Geona, Wisconsin; Sandra Stein of Lacrosse, Wisconsin; brother-in-law Tim and Debbie Scoggins of Tuscola; dear friends Kathy and Mike Denny of Abilene; and extended family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Elenor Stein.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, Tx 75231.