Obituary

Diana Lynn (Ostrander) Russell

Diana Russell, 79, passed away on December 8, 2024. Services will be held at the Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, MO.  Visitation starts at 1:00 with the service at 2:00. In Lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite pet rescue.

Diana was born in Amarillo, Texas on Monday, March 5, 1945. She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1963, and attended Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas for 2 years. She transferred to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967. At Texas Tech, she became reacquainted with Charles Russell whom she had previously known when he had lived in Amarillo. He became the love of her life, and they were married in Amarillo on July 16, 1966. After both graduated from Texas Tech, they moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1967 where they lived for 3 years.

In 1970, the couple moved to Blue Springs, Missouri and subsequently made their permanent home in Lee’s Summit. Diana was a stay at home Mom for several years and then worked for the Olive Tree Children’s Center for 5 years. She then worked as a Parent Educator for the Parents As Teachers program in the Lee’s Summit school district where she retired after 24 years of service.

Diana’s God and family as well as the children and families she worked with were her life’s most important priorities. She was a great lover of animals with her family adopting many dogs over the years. She loved feeding the birds and squirrels.

Within the Lee’s Summit School District, she was a member of the Comprehensive School Improvement Process Team. She coordinated the Safety Fairs for Lee’s Summit Parents As Teachers for many years. For this work she was recognized by Jackson County’s COMBAT as a woman who worked to make the world a better place.

While her children attended Lee’s Summit Schools, she was a frequent volunteer at school functions. She served as Committee Secretary for Cub Scout Pack 264 and was secretary and strong supporter of Lee’s Summit High School Music Parents. She also supported the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and volunteered for the Annual Trolley Run.

She was preceded in death by her parents – Joseph and Josephine Ostrander (1995), by 3 brothers – Bobby Lee (1934), David Joe (1935), David Glenn (2019), and by a sister Helen Cavin (1995).

She is survived by her husband Charles Russell of the home, a daughter Angela Ramey and her husband Taos Ramey, a son Steve Russell and his wife Patti. She is also survived by her precious grandchildren Justin Ramey, Jeremy Ramey, Kayla Russell, and Kevin Russell. She is also survived by 1 nephew and 2 nieces.