Russell Lee Joiner, 91, a life-long resident of Trenton, passed away on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Saint Luke’s Medical Center in Kansas City.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. at First Christian Church in Trenton. Scheduled visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at the church, under the direction of Resthaven Mortuary of Trenton.
Russell, the son of Harvey and Frances (Brown) Joiner, was born Aug. 6, 1920, at the family’s home at 719 Kumler Street in Trenton. The family later moved to the Rabbit Ridge community south of Trenton where Russell attended Pleasant Grove School. He attended Trenton Junior and Senior High Schools, graduating in 1937.
In 1935, Mr. Joiner met his future bride, Glenda Johnson. Russell and Glenda were married on July 18, 1937 in Trenton, beginning more than 71 years of companionship. Russell and Glenda farmed and lived in the Rabbit Ridge community where their first son, Gordon, was born in 1938. Their second son, Phillip, was born in 1942, and son Mark was born in 1951.
Russell enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1944 and was assigned to the Army Air Corp where he trained as a gunner on a B-29 bomber. He served as a member of a B-29 crew in the Pacific theater of World War II from July 1945 through the end of the war. He participated in four bombing missions against the Japanese home islands and two missions to drop supplies to Allied prisoners-of-war still held in Japanese POW camps at the war’s end. His B-29 crew also participated in the ceremonial flyover of the Japanese surrender ceremony held on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945.
Before his Army enlistment, Russell went to work as a temporary mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Trenton in 1942. Following his return from the war, he resumed his career with the post office. Many Trenton residents fondly recall Russell’s years as a mail carrier, a position he held until 1963 when President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him Trenton postmaster. He retired in 1975 and was recognized for his service by Missouri Gov. Kit Bond.
Russell and Glenda joined First Christian Church on Dec. 6, 1946. He held many leadership roles at the church, including serving as a deacon for many years. In 1958, Russell began leading the 50-50 Class, a Sunday school class for young married couples. He taught the class for 63 years until his death.
Russell is widely remembered throughout north Missouri for his leadership and mentoring of young men as a Boy Scout leader for Troop 97, based at First Christian Church. His many years as a scout leader were recognized when the Boy Scouts’ Pony Express Council honored him in 1963 with the Silver Beaver, which is the highest honor that can be awarded to an adult leader in scouting.
As a member for many years of the Trenton R-IX and the North Central Missouri College boards, Russell worked on a number of pivotal issues benefiting education in Trenton. He was a member of R-IX board when the bond issue was passed to build a new high school and also when the college was separated from the school board and set on its rise to prominence.
Other Trenton organizations that Russell has touched include the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Trenton Senior Center, the Trenton Rotary Club, the Fair Board, the Grundy County Historical Society, the Grundy County Senior Citizen Tax Fund Board and many others. In recent years, he entertained and educated visitors and residents alike during his history bus tours of Trenton during Missouri Days. Refusing to be slowed down by age, Russell and Glenda volunteered for Meals on Wheels for more than 25 years together. He delivered meals just a week before his passing.
On Dec. 6, 2008, Russell’s partner in life, Glenda Joiner, died. Though her passing left a void in his life, Russell continued to serve, volunteer and add to the lives of family and friends in Trenton and beyond. In 2010, he was honored to be joined in marriage by a friend of many years, Talma Holt, who made his last year of life an adventure of travel and new family relationships.
Russell Lee Joiner was preceded in death by his wife of seven decades, Glenda, and son, Gordon. Survivors include wife, Talma, two sons, Phillip of Pacifica, Calif., and Mark of Albuquerque, N.M., and his wife April; four grandchildren, Jeff of Stillwater, Okla. and his wife Jody, Lori Joiner of Findlay, Ohio, Ann Joiner, of Berkley, Calif., and Kate Joiner of Albuquerque; five great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, two step children and two step grandchildren.
The family has suggested that memorial contributions be made to the First Christian Church of Trenton, they can be left at or mailed to Resthaven Mortuary, P.O. Box 587, Trenton, MO 64683.
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