Russell Irwin Bender, age  93, passed away on May 25, 2025 at Bickford House in Champaign.  He was born July 19,1931 in Riverside, Illinois, the son of Francis and Margaret Bender.

He was married 70 years to his wife Barbara, she survives.  They had two children Daniel Bender (Lisa) and Diana Bender; three grandchildren, Erica, Isaac, and Jordan; one great-grandson Alijah, and three great granddaughters Aurelia, Alisa, and Kennedi, several nieces and one nephew Tom Bender of Urbana.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Stanley and Donald Bender, and sister Mariann.

Russell grew up in Riverside, Illinois, graduating from Riverside-Brookfield High School in 1949.  He came to the Champaign-Urbana area after graduation to attend the University of Illinois.  He later became employed by the U of I as a groundsman, then as an electrician apprentice, and remained employed there as a journeyman electrician until his retirement.  He was a proud member of the IBEW Local 601.

He enjoyed fishing, antique cars, vacationing in Florida during the winter months, and meeting with friends several times a week for coffee and chatting. He was an avid runner - often running to and from his work place.  He ran in the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot since the beginning, stopping only a few years ago with many blue ribbons which he collected.

He was a member of Webber St. Church of Christ for 35+ years and later became a member of the First Baptist Church of Champaign at Savoy.

Visitation will be held prior to the memorial service at 10:00 AM at Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana, on Friday, May 30, 2025. The memorial services will begin at 11:00 AM with Pastor Joe Sanders of First Baptist Church presiding.

If you would care to make a donation in Russell's memory, kindly consider the First Baptist Church of Champaign of Savoy, Alzheimers Association or Tunnel to Towers.