Russell Smith, 82, of Anamosa, died Saturday, Marc h 28, 2026 at Harmony Cedar Rapids.

Russell Briggs Smith, Jr. was born June 4, 1943, in McComb, MS, the son of Russell and Daphine (Herring) Smith, Sr. On September 15, 1967, he entered the United States Navy in Jacksonville, FL and served his country during the Vietnam War aboard river boats patrolling in the Mekong Delta. On November 6, 1969, he was given an honorable discharge from the service.

Russell was employed as a machinist at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids for many years. He was active in the Arthur McCoullough American Legion Post #13 in Anamosa  and was interested in anything that had to do with history, patriotism, the Constitution, and conservative thought.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Charles Herring Smith.

Military honors, conducted by the United States Navy and the Anamosa Veterans Honor Guard, will be accorded at 11 am Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the Jones County Freedom Rock in Stone City.

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When I die

Give what's left of me away

To children

And old men that wait to die,

And if you need to cry,

Cry for your brother

Walking the street beside you.

And when you need me,

Put your arms

Around anyone

And give them

What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,

Something better

Than words

Or sounds.

Look for me

In the people I've known

Or loved,

And if you cannot give me away,

At least let me live on in your eyes

And not your mind.

You can love me the most

By letting

Hands touch hands,

By letting bodies touch bodies,

Of children

That need to be free.

Love doesn't die,

People do.

So, when all that's left of me

Is love,

Give me away.

Merrit Malloy