Russell Ray Fitzwater

     Russell Ray Fitzwater, 85, of Hinton joyfully stepped into glory October 15, 2023 at Summers County Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.

     Born June 16, 1938 at Omar, WV he was a son of the late Walter Fritz and Elva Sarah Arthur Fitzwater. Russell was a US Navy Veteran serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis on USS destroyer E.A. Greene DDS 711. He was an electronics instructor at the Charleston Naval Shipyard in Charleston, SC.  Russell was a Deacon of Ashley River Baptist Church in Charleston, SC where he taught Sunday school and was part of the bus ministry. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Hinton where he ran the sound system. Russell enjoyed nature and golfing with his good friend, Bill Meador. He was a member of the Civil Service Board for the City of Hinton and a 1956 Graduate of Hinton High School.  Russell was a loving husband, father and dependable and caring friend who could fix just about anything and did for family, friends and acquaintances.

     He was preceded in death by one infant brother, Walter Fitzwater; three brothers, George, Paul and Jimmy Lee Fitzwater and one sister, Ruth King.

     Those left to cherish his memory include his loving and faithful wife of 64 years, Virginia Tucker Fitzwater; one son, Russell Ray Fitzwater Jr. and wife Paige of Mesa, AZ; one daughter, Mary Eleanor Fitzwater of Charleston, SC; his grandson and the apple of his eye, Paul Jamison “PJ” Fitzwater of Charleston, SC; one brother, Jerry Fitzwater and wife Penny of Salem, IL; one cousin that was like a brother, Gary Arthur and wife Margie of Milton; dear friends, Jerry and Pat Mallard of James Island, SC , Rex and Connie Cyphers of Hinton and many dear friends too numerous to list.

     A Celebration of Life will be 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel with Pastor Butch Honaker officiating.  Burial will follow in the Lilly-Crews Cemetery at Nimitz. Visitation will be from noon until time of services. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mountaineer Food Bank, 484 Enterprise Dr. Gassaway, WV 26624.