Hugh Russell Mead

passed away unexpectedly from complications of heart disease in Arlington, Texas, on February 15th, 2018.

He was an otherwise healthy individual who participated in many 5 and 10k runs in his earlier years.

Russell graduated from the College of Design program at the University of Cincinnati in 1963. He was a

Captain in the US Air Force between 1963 and 1967, and was stationed in Vietnam, Japan, and Arizona.

Following his discharge, he met and married the love of his life in 1968 - Judy Kay Schmidt, from Greeley,

Colorado. They have two children, Russell Scott Mead and wife Claudia (Arvizo), and Amanda Jane Mead and

partner Donna Pope. The families of Russell and Judy were always most important in their lives, including

Russell's brother Alan and wife Mary Kay Mead, sister Jane Mead, along with nieces and nephews and their

families. Judy's brother Russell and wife Beverly (Dabney) Schmidt, and brother Ted and wife Dee Schmidt,

and their families, were very loved and very special to him.

Russell worked as a commercial interior designer most of his career, including design and space planning for

hotels, department stores, book stores, and seven years as a civilian designer with the US Air Force. He was a

talented watercolor artist and draftsman, and spent several years working with stained glass. He loved

studying art history, archaeology, and aviation history. He was especially interested in ancient civilizations in

Central America, as well as the Mound Builders in North America. He and Judy loved their two trips to

Guatemala and the ruins of Tikal to celebrate their 50th anniversary early - they would have marked 50 years

on July 14, 2018.

Special gatherings will be held with families in the near future to say farewell and celebrate his life. Russell was

a gentleman and a scholar, a quick wit, and a devoted father and husband, and shall be deeply missed by

many, many family members and friends.

The family is grateful for the loving care and effort for Russell in the Heart & Vascular Center at Arlington

Memorial Hospital, and would like to express their appreciation for the beautiful Veteran’s Final Salute at the

hospital.