Russ was born to Franklin E. Smith and Dorothy J. Miller. Russ was raised on the Smith Family Farm on Trumbull Lake. He graduated from Terril High in 1977, then started working at Eaton Corporation where he worked 38 years. Russ met Kristy at Eaton in 1982 then they married in 1985. Later buying their family farm in 1988, where they raised their 3 children. Russ loved hunting and fishing and taking care of his farm. He fought a hard battle against cancer for 5 years. He loved his family, Kristy, his wife. Sherry, his daughter, and his sons Shilo, and Shane, their spouses, Melinda (Shane's wife) and Jesse (Sherry's husband). And his grandkids, Luciano, Elijio, Amara, Theo, Corbin, and Madden. He will be missed everyday.