LAKELAND - Russell 'Russ' Allison, 72, passed away September 18, 2015.
Mr. Allison was born in Otterbein, IN on January 1, 1943, to the late Earl and Violet Allison.
He retired from the U.S. Army after serving in Vietnam as a CW3 helicopter pilot.
He later worked for the Polk County Water Department. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, cooking and dining out with his wife in his spare time.
Mr. Allison was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Ann Allison and brother, Wendall Allison.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Annie Ang Allison;
Daughter, Julieann Allison; brothers, Ronnie (Martha) Allison and Paul (Sue) Allison; sisters, Rita (Glen) Forrest and Dorothy Ross; grandchild, Adrian Allison.
A visitation will be held Monday from 6-8pm at Gentry Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland.
Funeral services and burial will be conducted in Potomac, IL.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Assistance in Healthcare (Cancer Treatment of America) - Att: Carol Lulinski, 2520 Elisha Ave. Zion, IL 60099.
Remembering Russ
By Don Callison
Long Knife 28
"Magnet Ass"
Russ and I were roommates and very good friends.
Vinh Long 1970-71
Russ doing some fishing out in the AO in a canal in the Mekong Delta 1971
Russ' "Born to raise Hell" Tat
Russ and I got together for breakfast in Lakeland around 2005.
The very first thing he asked me when we met that morning, "Do you still have that problem of getting hungry after you kill somebody?"
I told him I didn't know since I hadn't killed anyone lately.
When we were in Vietnam I had confided in him about a "condition" I had.
We thought I was seriously warped and it remained our secret for many years until I confided in a friendly flight surgeon.
Whenever our Troop would be assigned to a particularly nasty area to work, Russ, who was a Slick pilot, would tell me he had put some extra C rations on his Huey for me.
It was our private joke.
Yeah Russ, I'll hoist a couple for you!
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