WIKI At the height of her career, Russell started the "Hollywood
Christian Group," a weekly Bible study at her home which was arranged for Christians in the film industry.
Russell appeared occasionally on the Praise The Lord program on the
Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian TV channel based in Costa Mesa, Cali.
Russell was at times a prominent Republican Party member who attended
Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration with other notables from Hollywood Lou
Costello, Dick Powell, June Allyson, Anita Louise and Louella Parsons.
OBIT EXCERPT Always she was able to rebound from troubles by relying on lessons she learned from her Bible-preaching mother, a lay minister. "Without faith, I never would have made it," she commented a few months after her third husband's death. "I don't know how people can survive all the disasters in their lives if they don't have any faith, if they don't know the Lord loves them and cares about them and has another plan."
Survivors include her children, Thomas K. Waterfield, Tracy Foundas and Robert "Buck" Waterfield, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A public funeral is scheduled March 12 at 11 a.m. at Pacific Christian Church in Santa Maria.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in her name to either the Care Net Pregnancy and Resource Center of Santa Maria or the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County.