Herbert Russell Fountain, Jr. was born on September 15, 1959, youngest child of Herbert Russell Fountain, Sr. and Nina Wanda Sutton Fountain Dobbyn. He was born in Mount Olive, North Carolina, home of Nina's family. His sisters remember that he enjoyed playing with baseball cards and toy army men as a child. He spent many summers of his youth at the homes of his aunts, uncles and cousins in North Carolina.
Russ graduated from the Unviversity of Maryland in May 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in General Studies. He worked professionally in insurance and information technology support. His hobbies included computer games, country music, gardening, and karayoke.
After living in the Washington, DC suburbs most of his life, Russ moved to Johnson City, Texas with his wife Catherine Fischer, whom he married on February 2, 2000. After moving to Johnson City, Russ served the community in service projects such as Meals on Wheels and being Santa on weekends during the Christmas season. He joined the First United Church, and was an active participant in projects such as the Last Supper Tableau, the production of Uncle Phil's Diner, the Living Story of Christmas, and the choir.
Russ also loved and was loved by his mother- and father-in-law, Linda and Jerry Fischer, and he was very proud of the accomplishments of his stepdaughter, Lindsay Olenick, and her brother Ivan C. Olenick.
Russ's sister Kathi Welshans lives in Navarre, Florida with her husband Jim and Russ's nephew Sam. His sister Lilymae Fountain lives in College Park, Maryland with her husband Richard Winston, and Russ's nephew Alex Werbos, and nieces Lissa and Maia Werbos.
Russ also loved his dogs Thunder and Paris.
He died suddenly of a heart attack in Johnson City, Texas on April 1, 2006.
We welcome memoirs from family and friends.
