Russell Lee Knowles, 85, of Godfrey, passed away at 2:05 p.m. Monday, September 5, 2022 at Alton Memorial Hospital.

Russ was born on August 4, 1937 in Akron, OH.  He was the son of the late Clyde V. and Nellie (Colvin) Knowles.

He and the former Josephine Ann Isinghood were married February 11, 1956 in Wellsburg, WV.  She passed away March 3, 2022.

Russ was a USA Marine Corps Veteran.

He drove a semi for several years then enrolled into the Mortuary Science program at SIU Carbondale where he stay during the week.  On the weekends he would come home to his family and worked at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. He became a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer and later worked with Gray Funeral Home in Wood River. He then became the owner/operator of his own Semi Trucking business retiring in 1992.

Survivors include one daughter, Laura and Frank Steward of Godfrey; two sons, Mark and Diane Knowles of Glen Carbon, David and Mary Knowles of Alton; two sons-in-law, Paul Averbeck of Godfrey, Imad Nasif of Alton; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Mary Wheaton of Pawpaw, WV;  two brothers-in-law Buck Wheaton of Pawpaw, WV, Richard Isinghood of Auburndale, FL.

Russ was also preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Nasif, Connie Averbeck; one sister, Rita Knowles.

Services are private.  Gray Funeral Home in Wood River is in charge of arragements.