Gladys (Armbrust) Russell

Funeral services for Gladys (Armbrust) Russell, 103, of Lufkin will be held Friday, October 4, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Steve Cowart officiating. Interment will follow in the Huntington Oddfellows Cemetery.

Gladys was born January 29, 1921 in Wilson, Kansas to the late Andy and Ella (Dolezal) Armbrust. She passed away Monday, September 30, 2024 in a local nursing home in Lufkin.

In her early years, she worked as a waitress at the Wilson Hotel then to the Herrington Hotel. She met the love of her life, Cletus Russell, who was in the Army/Air Force. They were married October 6, 1944. When Cletus was honorably discharged, they moved back to Huntington, Texas where Cletus was from and made their home, where they lived until May of 2018. They moved to their daughter, Nancy Allen’s home in Lufkin where they lived out the rest of their lives. Around 1957 Gladys went to work for the Huntington ISD as a cafeteria worker, where she retired from in the late 1980’s.

Gladys loved her flowers, gardening and entertaining family and friends. She also loved playing cards with friends and marbles (Wahoo) with her kids, grandkids and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughters, Nancy Allen and Janice Brooks; grandchildren, Steve Allen and wife Karen, Stacey Brooks and wife Sherry, Monica Gilbert and husband Richard; great-grandchildren, Chris Allen and wife Sarah, Amber Jones and husband Leslie, Casey Brooks, morgan Milstead, Taylor Wier and husband Mathew, and Lucas Gilbert; great-great-grandchildren, Adalyn Jones, Penelope Brooks, Ivan Milstead, and Conway Allen; as well as a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 74 years, Cletus Russell; great-grandchild, Jared Gilbert; son-in-law, Billy Ray Allen; sister, Pearl Gant and husband Wayne; and brothers, Richard Armbrust and wife Louise; Dell Armbrust and wife Ruth, Melvin Armbrust and wife Mable, and Dean Armbrust and wife Sylvia.

Pallbearers will be Stacey Brooks, Casey Brooks, Richard Gilbert, Lucas Gilbert, Chris Allen and Matthew Wier.

Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Angels, Home Care, 517 Gaslight Blvd., Lufkin, Texas 75904 or Harbor Hospice, 402 S. John Redditt Drive, Suite 203, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon prior to the service.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.