Russell A. (Russ) Mears, 73, of Del City, OK went home to be with his Heavenly Father on March 6, 2017.  He was born March 2, 1944, in Jeannette, a son of the late Robert Edward and Florence Hayes Mears.  He was a member of Wickline United Methodist Church and active in the Seekers Sunday School Class and sang in the church choir.  Russ graduated from Jeannette Senior High School in 1962 and entered the Air Force, where he became an air traffic controller.  He earned the rank of "Chief Master Sergeant", which is only awarded to  2% of the enlisted force.  After 25 1/2 years, he retired from the Air Force to begin a civilian career in the aviation industry.  He worked for the Washington Consulting Group in Miami, FL as an air traffic control instructor, and contract site supervisor.  He was selected to work in Oklahoma City, OK as the contract director and later worked as the quality control manager for the aviation division.  When the Washington Consultant Group office closed in 2011, Russ decided to retire the second time.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Merle William Mears and a sister, Janice Ashe.  Russ is survived by his wife Dianne of Del City, OK, devoted father of Mike and Jeff Mears and wife Ashley, Dianne's daughters, Cindy Johnson and Kerry Strawn as well as their families, sister, Roberta Griffith and her husband William of Pittsburgh, sister-in-law, Margaret Mears of Mt. Pleasant and his mother-in-law, Meme.  Friends will be received 9:30 am -11:00 am Saturday in the MASON-GELDER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 201 N. First St., Jeannette.  Funeral service will be at 2:00 pm Saturday in the Westmoreland County Memorial Park, Greensburg.  Interment with military rites accorded by the Jeannette Combined Veterans will follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wickline United Methodist Church, 417 Mid-America Blvd., Midwest City, OK, 73110. 

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