Frankie Joe Russell, 88, died at his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, September 29, 2022.

He was born on July 23, 1934 the son of James Herschel Russell and Josie Orr Russell in Malvern, Arkansas.  He graduated from Malvern High School in 1953 where he played football, baseball, and basketball for the Malvern Leopards.  After high school he played independent baseball and was offered a Minor League contract with the Detroit Tigers.  He married Melba Cornelius on May 8, 1959 and together they raised three children.

Frankie Joe retired from National Rejecters in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he served as President of the United Steelworkers of America Union, Local 6178.  He traveled the country in the 1970's to help organize the Steelworkers' union.  He also served in the Army National Guard.

He loved sports!  He worked to organize the Malvern Senior Babe Ruth Baseball League and coached both Jr. Babe Ruth and Sr. Babe Ruth for several years.  He enjoyed trips to St. Louis, Missouri to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball and he was a UALR Trojans basketball season ticket holder for over ten years.  His favorite professional basketball team was the Boston Celtics.  He never missed a Malvern Leopard Football game unless he was at squirrel camp until illness kept him away in recent years.  Of course, he loved all our Arkansas Razorback athletic teams.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and squirrel camp.  He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed big family meals.  He was especially fond of all you can eat buffets and he always made sure he got his money's worth.  He also enjoyed the horse racing at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.  His favorite trip was any trip to Branson, Missouri.  He loved country music; real country music, "not that mess they play now" as he would often say.

Frankie Joe was preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Melba Cornelius Russell; two sons, Eric Russell of Jones Mill, Arkansas, Terry Russell and daughter-in-law Catherine Collins Russell; one daughter, Dawn Russell; two grandsons, Britton and Brandon Russell; one great granddaughter, Cora Russell all of Malvern; two sisters, Marilyn Stephens (Jerry) of Grand Prairie, Texas, Linda Pennington (Ed) of Sherwood, Arkansas and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Monday, October 3 at 11:00am at Shadowlawn Cemetery with Brother Mark Parsley officiating.

The Russell family would like to thank Dr. Bruce Burton and everyone at Malvern Diagnostic Clinic, the medical professionals and staff at UAMS Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock, and everyone at Baptist Health Medical Center Hot Spring County and Little Rock.  A special thank you to everyone at Kindred Hospice for their compassion and the excellent care they provided.

In lieu of flowers charitable donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Malvern Leopard Athletic Foundation.

Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home.  You may sign the guest book at regencyfuneralhome.com.