Margaret P. Russell

Margaret Phillippi Russell lived from June 9, 1934, to Feb. 16, 2026. Hers was a life filled with 91 years of love, laughter and lasting memories.

She was born to Margaret and Jonas Phillippi in their Columbus farmhouse, the youngest of five children by nine years. “I was probably a surprise,” she wrote in her autobiography, “and probably changed the lifestyle of a few people.”

A model student, she graduated from Hilliards High School and then went to work as a secretary at the General Motors plant a mile from the family farm. At GM, she met, dated and married a young engineer, Cash Duane Russell. When he died in 2010, she said simply, “Fifty-two years together wasn’t long enough.”

Margaret and Duane raised three children and delighted in seeing their basement used as a hangout for scores of their friends. Margaret was a PTA officer, a room mother, a field-trip driver, and a familiar face at her nerdy kids’ band contests, choir concerts and plays.

A lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church, Margaret taught Sunday school, directed the choir, served as secretary and worked the food line at the bratwurst festival.

She and Duane treated their offspring to unforgettable vacations. Margaret good- naturedly took it upon herself to pack suitcases for four people, pass out snacks in the car, and look the other way as her children painted their napping father’s toenails. On a Disney cruise, her grandkids learned to their surprise and mild embarrassment that Granny was born to dance the Macarena.

Margaret lived much of her last decade with Alzheimer’s, a disease that tried but failed to rob her of her personality. Her familiar expressions, her impish demeanor and her radiant smile survived to the end. She forged deep relationships with her wonderful caregivers at Friendship Village of Dublin – amusing them, hugging them and repeatedly reminding them that she loved them. Minutes after Margaret drew her last breath, several staff members gathered at the foot of her bed and wept.

She was the fun aunt, the adoring granny, the madly-in-love wife, the welcoming mother-in-law, the model mom. She was the glue of the family.

Margaret is survived by her children Danny (Candy) Russell, Chris (Monte) Stevens and Brenda (Dan) Trittschuh; grandchildren Nathaniel (Alyssa) Stevens, Abigail (Adam) Zimmerman, Adam (Alicia) Stevens and Noelle (Ryan) Russell; great-grandchildren Amelia and Natalie Stevens; and sister Mildred Tabert.

The family will receive friends Monday, Feb. 23, 4-7 p.m., and Tuesday, Feb. 24, 10-11 a.m., at St. James Lutheran Church, 5660 Trabue Road, Columbus 43228, where the funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church.