Linwood "Earl" Russell, a resident of Newton, AL died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, March 8, 2019. He was 74 years old. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Raina McKnight and Lyle Peluso officiating. Burial will follow in Newton City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Earl was born Oct. 4, 1944 in Newport, N.C. He was the oldest son of Linwood M. and Leona Gould Russell. He lived the early part of his childhood in Bogue, N.C. He was in the 1962 graduating class of Swansboro High School, in Swansboro N.C. He joined the United States Army in 1966 and served his country during the Vietnam War. While stationed at Ft. Rucker he met his wife Wanda June (McKnight) Smith. Earl and June were united in marriage on May 21, 1970 and have resided in Newton for the past 49 years. Earl was honorably discharged from the Army May 22, 1970. He attended Wallace Community College and received a degree in drafting. He then worked for Barefield drafting. In 1973, he became employed by Couch Construction as a draftsman. During his 37-year career at Couch he worked up to become lab supervisor. He was preceded in death by his parents Linwood M. Russell and Leona Gould Russell and a brother Dewey Ray Russell. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Wanda June (McKnight-Smith) Russell; daughters, Deanna (Dee) Russell and Judith (Doug) Howard; grandchildren, Kimberly Howard and Justin (Candice) Howard; great grandsons, Bentley and Tucker Howard; brothers and sisters-in-law, Judy and Bob Osborne, Evelyn Burgess, Phillip and Linda McKnight, Milton and Kay McKnight, Jerry and Kay Smith, Eddie and Mandy Russell, Shelley Russell; sister, Ruth Wade; many nieces, nephews, friends, and loved ones.