Russell Linwood Gross III

Russell Linwood Gross III, 48 of Beckley passed away Sunday November 3rd in the Charleston Area Medical Center following an apparent heart attack. Born February 7th, 1971 in Alexandria VA he was the son of the late Russell “Buddy” Gross II of Alexandria VA and Katy Jo Heaberlin of Beckley.

A 1989 graduate of Mt Vernon High School in Alexandria VA, Russell graduated in 1993 from Salisbury State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology.  Russell managed the DNA lab for Fairfax Identity Lab in Richmond VA. Russell loved music and singing and was a member of the Richmond Community Chorus. He moved to Beckley to be closer to family in 2014.

Russell has been very active in sports participating in bowling, football, basketball, baseball, and auto racing. He was an avid collector of Hot Wheels since a childhood and amassed a collection of over 25,000 cars and had served as President of the Mid Atlantic Hot Wheels Club. He also loved trivia, music and was an avid sports enthusiast.

Besides his mother he is survived by; two uncles, Donald F Heaberlin and wife Karen of Lebanon OH, and William A. Heaberlin and wife Debby of Huntington WV. One aunt Shirley H. Van Horne of Beckley, cousins Katherine L Van Horne of Centreville VA, and Michael M. Heaberlin of Huntington WV, and extended family in West Virginia and Maine.

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM at the Melton Mortuary Chapel in Beckley WV. Friends may call from 11 AM until service time on Friday.  Burial will follow in the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Prosperity WV.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Marine Toys for Tots at Toys for Tots of Southern West Virginia, 306 South Kanawha Street, Beckley WV  25801

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