Russell Wayne Rand
September 15, 1920 ~ February 5, 2011
Resided in:
Candler, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
RUSSELL WAYNE RAND
CANDLER - Russell Wayne Rand, 90, of Dogwood Ct., Candler, died Saturday, February 5, 2011, at Mission Hospital, Memorial Campus.
Mr. Rand was born September 15, 1920, in Jasper, Missouri to the late Clarence L. and Helen Marie (Williams) Rand. He attended Jasper School and graduated in 1937, Valedictorian of his class.
Following graduation he attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri for 1 year before transferring to the University of Missouri at Columbia, where he graduated in 1942 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was awarded membership in Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma, both honorary scholastic fraternities.
Upon graduation, he was employed by Caterpillar Tractor Company of Peoria, Illinois.
He married Jean A. Konantz, of Lamar, Missouri on June 28, 1942, in Lamar, Missouri. They resided in Peoria and Decatur, IL, until his induction into the Navy in May 1944.
Following a training period in Ft. Skyler, NY, he was assigned to U.S. Navel Operations in Mechanicsburg, PA, where he served until his discharge in 1946.
He then returned to Caterpillar Corp. in Peoria, IL, where he was employed in the Research Dept. of Diesel Engine Development. He also served as coordinator for the design of the then-new Technical Center, and as Division Manager and Staff Engineer. In addition, he served 2 years as Chairman of the local Society of Automotive Engineers and as County Chairman of the American Cancer Society. He volunteered many hours and miles as a driver for the American Cancer Society.
He retired after 35 years of service with Caterpillar Feb. 1, 1977, in order to care for his ailing wife Jean, who preceded him in death in 1978.
He was an avid tennis player well into his 70's until Parkinson's Disease forced his retirement.
On April 10, 1980, he married Gwendolyn Streeter Konantz, formerly of Nevada, MO and Franklin, NC. They were married at Maiden's Chapel Methodist Church, Cartoogejaye Community, near Franklin, NC. She survives him, as do her children, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who always considered him as a loving father and grandfather. He also is survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be welcomed and appreciated, or memorials may be made to ones favorite charity or to the Leesburg High School Foundation, Inc., for deposit into the Teri Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 491271, Leesburg, FL 34749-1271.
Local assistance is being provided by Groce Funeral Home in Asheville, NC, with final arrangements to be made by Konantz-Warden Funeral Home in Lamar, MO. Interment will be in Lake Cemetery in Lamar, MO.
There will be a local memorial service for which date, time, and location will be announced.
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Uncle Russ was always a very upbeat and happy man with a terrific sense of humor. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Aunt Gwen and all the Konantz and Rand families. Love, Barbara Kay and Bobby Martell