Russell Edwin Rosell 1921-2020
On Tuesday, April 2, Russell Edwin Rosell, husband, father and grandfather, passed away in Seal Beach, California, at the age of 98 years.
Russell was born on Oct. 4,1921, in Detroit, Michigan. Russell married Inez Weidenman on June 8, 1948. In 1958, he and Inez, along with their three children, Rosalind, Rita and Jeff, moved from Michigan to Southern California and lived in Garden Grove for 55 years. Sadly, Inez passed in December 2001. In time, Russell sold their Garden Grove home and moved to Leisure World Seal Beach where he lived for 17 years until his passing.
Russell was a Mason Temple member for 77 years. He was a World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Force. Russell certainly experienced many world events and changes in the years of his long life.
During his years in Leisure World, his favorite hangout was In-N-Out Burger in Seal Beach. He was a weekly familiar face to many of the employees there.
Russell is survived by his son, Jeffrey Rosell, and his wife Debbie, and daughters Rita Rosell Johnson (her late husband Royal Johnson) and Rosalind Rosell Rawlings and her husband, Jack Rawlings. Russell also took great pride in his grandchildren, Matthew and Michelle Rosell. May he rest in peace.
The following tribute to Russell was written by his granddaughter, Michelle Rosell, just after her grandfather’s passing.
“The original In-N-Out kid! At the age of 98, my grandpa passed away last night after a very long and eventful life. Russell Rosell was a World War II vet, worked until he was 93, and ate at In-N-Out so often that he had his own embroidered apron.
Given what’s going on now, it’s hard to see past tomorrow, but my grandpa was a part of the generation that should give us all hope. He was born at the end of the Spanish flu pandemic; survived the Great Depression; fought in WWII; and saw the invention of colored TV, the Internet and cell phones. We will get through this tough time just as they did. May we all be so lucky to witness the amount of change for future generations that this one man saw in his lifetime.”
- Paid obituary
