1910 – 2004

AUBURN – Russell L. Sansbury, 93, a resident of 3 Birch Place, Auburn, died early Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, at Clover Manor, following a long illness.

Born in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 1910, the son of Richard Albert and Ellanora White Sansbury, he was educated in the schools of Washington, D.C., graduating from Eastern High School.

He was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., as a child and young man. He will be remembered by his family and friends for his generous, thoughtful, caring nature and for his sense of humor. “Uncle Russell” was always a great favorite with all his many young nieces and nephews. He was an avid reader and a member of Friends of the Auburn Public Library.

He married the former Doris I. Clifford of Auburn on May 2, 1946, in the Chapel of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in the District of Columbia. They lived in the district and Maryland for 25 years, before his retirement in 1968, when they moved to Auburn.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II in Waco, Texas, England and France, from April 1942, until his discharge in November of 1945.

He retired after 40 years of service from the U.S. Botanic Gardens in Washington and 25 years as foreman at the Gardens’ Poplar Point Nursery. In the eight greenhouses with a crew of about eight men, he had the care of the Botanic Gardens’ azalea collection between showings at the conservatory and for many other varieties of plants and shrubs. He was the principle grower for all the cut flowers and flowering plants shown at the conservatory and for the use of Congress and for a number of government functions. He was responsible for the care of a variety of plants and shrubs stored at the nursery and shown at the conservatory in season.

In Auburn, he was one of the directors of the S.P.CA. for 22 years, serving on several committees for the maintenance of the shelter. He was a member of the Auburn United Methodist Church since 1971, serving as financial secretary for a number of years, also caring for the church’s planter.

He enjoyed playing bridge with friends, traveling in New England, Maryland, and Virginia, and also many good times with family and friends. He used his special talent and ability growing a variety of flowers, plants and shrubs improving his property in Maryland, and Maine.

He is survived by (his wife of Aubum); five nieces, and nephews, Evelyn J. Needles, Pittsburgh, Pa., Doris J. Dot, New Hartford, N.Y., Frank A. Joyce, Ashburn, Va., Robert H. Sansbury, Signal Mountain, Tenn., Gilbert M. Sansbury, Rehoboth Beach, Del.; and a number of great-nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a nephew, Lemuel C. Sansbury of Charleston, S.C.

Copy the Story Link