Mr. Russell J. Blades, age 90, passed away October 16, 2006 at Memorial Medical Center, Ludington, Michigan. Born in Walkerville, Michigan on July 28, 1916, the son of J. A. Garfield and Mary Edna (Jensen) Blades, Russell graduated from Hart High School (1934) before going to Western Michigan University (B.S. 1938) and Wayne State University (M.A. 1950 and EDS 1967). He also attended University of Michigan and Michigan State University for specialized classes. Russell was raised on the family farm and worked a variety of jobs through college before starting to teach at Springport High School in 1938. There he met Mary Louise Fenn and was married on December 14, 1940. Russell taught at Hartford and Riverview High Schools prior to settling down at Ecorse High School in 1946. After teaching for 22 years, he went into school administration where he continued until retirement in 1978, completing 40 years in public education. During this period he also served in the United States Navy active duty from 1942 – 1946 and remained in the US Naval Reserve until retiring after 37 years at the rank of captain. After retirement, Russell moved to Pentwater, home of his grandparents' centennial farm. He was active at Centenary United Methodist Church, service club, Pentwater and Oceana County historical societies and served on the local school board. Russell loved to travel around the world and took exceptional joy in sponsoring three foreign exchange students. One of these relationships has lasted 48 years and continues with the children today. He was very interested and concerned about national and world events and deeply troubled by some of them. He was known to family and friends as a gentle person with strong convictions and was quietly generous when he could make a difference. Russell and Mary Louise would have celebrated 66 years of marriage in December. Russell is survived by his wife, three children – Carol Rillema (Jim), Gary Blades (Laura) and Joyce Blades, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His family and faith were the cornerstones of his life. Nothing meant more to him than his wife, children and grandchildren. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all of them. The funeral service for Mr. Blades will be held Friday, October 20, 2007 at 3:00 P.M. from the Centenary United Methodist Church, Pentwater, with the Rev. Harris Hoekwater officiating. Interment will be in the Pentwater Township Cemetery with full Military Honors provided by the Pentwater VFW Post 6017 and the Department of the Navy. Friends may meet the family Thursday from 2-4 P.M. at the Tate-King Funeral Home-Hart and from 7-9 P.M. at the Centenary United Methodist Church-Pentwater. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be sent to the Pentwater Historical Society, Oceana Historical Society or UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief) Disaster Relief Fund.