O. Russell (Russ) Gerhard, 80, of Landenberg, died Monday, Aug. 13 in the comfort of his home with his devoted wife of 53 years Carole Funk Gerhard by his side.
Russ was born on Dec. 11, 1931 to the late Oran Russell and Dora Sanner Gerhard of Forest Hills.
He graduated from Bridgewater College of Virginia in 1958. After working for the college for a year, Russ married his college sweetheart, Carole in August of 1959. They moved to Pennsylvania for Russ to attend the University of Pennsylvania where he obtained his masters degree in social work in 1961. In 1963, they bought an old stone farmhouse in Landenberg that Russ fully restored and maintained until his passing.
Russ spent his professional life dedicated to serving others first as a counselor for the Family Court of the State of Delaware and then as the Director of the Division of Probation and Parole in the State of Delaware. He worked as a psychiatric social worker for the Veterans Hospital in Coatesville until his retirement in 1992.
Russ’s first priority was his family. He was an avid fisherman, woodworker and philosopher who loved to travel especially if the road trip was to Alaska. He read and reread all of the books Joseph Campbell published in his lifetime. You could sum up Russ as, "Funny, smart and fun." His retort, "You forgot cute."
In addition to his wife Carole, Russ is survived by his son and best friend Jacob Russell and daughter in-law Janet Marie, two grandchildren he doted on James Russell and Caroline Marie Gerhard of Lansdowne, as well as his younger brother and sister in-law, James and Shauneen Gerhard of Buxton, N.C.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 17 at the Hockessin United Methodist Church in Hockessin, where Russ was a member for more than 40 years. Burial will be in Singers Glen, Va.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests a donation to Willow Tree Hospice of Kennett Square, (610-444-8733) that provided dignity and grace in his final days or the Joseph Campbell Foundation http://www.jcf.org which was a compass in this hero’s journey. Follow your bliss.
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