Louise Crone Russell

Louise Crone Russell THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Louise Crone Russell, of Thousand Oaks, California, passed away on May 17, 2021, at home, at the grand age of 93. She was born on Jan. 4, 1928, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Helen and Stanley Crone. From the age of 6 months old, Louise was raised by her beloved grandparents, Anna and Raymond Gackenbach, leaving behind the family she was born into, including 11 full siblings and 12 half siblings, to be raised as an only child. She lived an idyllic childhood growing up in the charming East Coast town of Newport, New Hampshire. She was the town’s own little Shirley Temple, tap dancing and singing from the age of 4 through her years at Towle High School in hundreds of musical productions and plays at the Newport Opera House. Dancing was the focus of Louise’s life and she loved every minute studying under her dance teacher, former Rockette Jill Northrop. In 1945, Louise was named Newport’s “Winter Carnival Queen” – a tradition that exists still today. During that same year, she met her future husband, Neil “Bing” Russell, who was attending nearby Dartmouth College. Bing and “Lou” were married in 1946 at the Newport Congregational Church. After Bing completed graduate school, they moved with their two children to Hollywood so Bing could pursue his career as an actor. They had two more children and Lou became very busy overseeing the fun and lively Russell household in Thousand Oaks. When the last of their four kids went off to college, Bing and Lou began their travels to many different countries around the world. They also enjoyed attending their 11 grandchildren’s activities, including watching their oldest grandchild, Matt Franco, play professional Major League Baseball. Bing passed away in 2003 at the age of nearly 77 with the love of his life and the family they created, by his side. As a testament to the deep love her family held for “Lulu,” all of her children, Jill Russell Franco, Kurt Russell (Goldie Hawn), Jody Russell Philbrick (Jack), Jami Russell Way (Rick), and all of her grandchildren, were at her bedside giving her love and comfort for the two weeks leading up to her peaceful departure. Thanks for a lifetime of sweet love, unwavering support and irreverent laughs, Mommy. (Not to mention your acting and dancing skills!) To borrow your words: We all “love you more.”