Clara Russell

Clara W. Russell

MILFORD - Clara W. Russell passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, May 30, 2015. She was 96.

Clara was born in Woodside on October 6, 1918, daughter of the late Ernest and Bessie (Morris) Wilcutts.

She graduated Valedictorian of her senior class from Caesar Rodney High School in Dover.

Mrs. Russell was employed as a secretary for 31 years with the State of Delaware Department of Transportation, Division of Highways. During that time she served as President of the Employees 25-Year Club and the Employees 10-Year Club.  She retired in 1971.

After retirement, Clara was elected to the Slaughter Beach Town Council, where she and her husband had a summer cottage.  She served as secretary to the Council for two years and was then elected Mayor, an office she held for ten years.  She was also a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Memorial Fire Company in Slaughter Beach.

Mrs. Russell was a member and past president of the Milford New Century Club and a past director of the Delaware Federation of Women’s Clubs.  She was a member and past president of the Board of Directors of the Milford Senior Center, a member of the State’s Diamond Club, a member and past treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Milford Memorial Hospital; a member of the Milford Historical Society, Friends of the Milford Museum, the AARP, both local and national and a member of the Officer’s Wives Club of the Dover Air Force Base.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Milford where she served as a past member of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Deacons and a past member and group leader of the Women’s Association.  Clara was also a past chairperson of the Nominating Committee of the Women’s Association of the New Castle Presbytery.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ret. Lt. Col. George G. Russell, Jr. in 2009.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave, Milford, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be held in the Milford Community Cemetery on North Walnut Street.