Kathryn Russ

Milford - At 11:47pm on February 17th, 2021, Kathryn Kimmel Russ calmly drew her final breath in the warm care of Delaware Hospice in Milford. Her passing will be mourned in communities all along the East Coast and in households spanning distances farther than she would expect.

Kathy’s loving and enthusiastic energy touched everyone she met and would encourage the love of Jesus everywhere she went.  Her ceaseless positivity and persistence shined brightly through all her endeavors and achievements.

The development of such work ethic started with humble beginnings at Grotto’s pizza in Rehoboth, DE.  Soon after, she would move on to Bridgewater college where she would earn a degree in creative writing.  Further education would earn her a Master’s degree in communication at Regent University where she also developed a love of film.

During her time in Virginia, she would touch many lives through her employment at Stihl and the Jones Clinic at Eastern Virginia Medical School.  She would also meet her former husband, Chris Russ, whose Naval job would quickly transplant them to Newport, RI.  There, they would have two children, CJ and Katrina. Kathy would continue to inspire many people through her jobs and involvement in churches and her children’s’ academic communities.  Her contagious character would infect her coworkers at the New England Regional Home Shopping Network, Psychiatric Division of the Rhode Island Hospital, and the Christian Assembly of God.  As her children’s’ schooling progressed, Kathy shifted her focus to aiding their academics; even to go as far as attempting to homeschool them herself (though they were a bit more of a handful than she expected, to their own admittance). Her volunteer work in the homeschooling co-ops, Aquidneck Island Christian Academy, and several church communities in the area would always inspire the children she helped and her fellow volunteers.

After many long years in Rhode Island and her eventual divorce, Kathy returned home to Milford, DE where she would work at Reformation Lutheran Church until her diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer. Initially given six months to a year to live, her fighting spirit and endless faith would inspire hope for three years.  Her crowning achievement was the fulfilment of her life long dream of becoming an author.  How blessed we are to always have the physical manifestation of her love for God and community in her book, Across the Stream. It was the first volume of seven in the Sheep Tales Series, and under her pen name, Ann Joseph. She has written volumes 2 & 3, but they haven’t been published yet. This book along with the many stories she told, blankets she knitted, and countless other labors of love are mere glimpses of the persistently gracious spirit of Kathy Russ.  After her unfortunately familiar battle with cancer, she joins her father, Dr. William “Bud” Kimmel, in Heaven.

She is survived by her children; C.J. Russ and Katrina Russ Viddy, and son-in-law, Charles Viddy.  She is also survived by her mother; Doris Kimmel, and her siblings; Karen McColley and Daniel Kimmel along with their families.  To mention every person for whom she was grateful to know would require the publishing of another book, to which most would doubt she would object.  However, rest assured that if you were lucky enough to know Kathryn Kimmel Russ, you can know that you have been and always will be loved.

Her viewing will take place at Roger’s Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave, Milford, from 5-8pm on Friday, February 26th and her service will take place at Avenue United Methodist Church at 1pm on Saturday, February 27th. Burial is at Milford Community Cemetery following the service.

Thank you to the amazing staff at Bayhealth, Cancer Treatment Center of America in Atlanta, and Delaware Hospice in Milford for the exemplary services you provided that comforted Kathy and her family from the beginning of her battle all the way through to her end.

In lieu of flowers, donations to any of these worthy agencies, or your favorite church, in Kathy’s name would be appreciated.

For condolences please visit www.rogersfhmilford.com.