Russell Earl Toler

Russell Earl Toler, 87, of Harrisburg, died Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the Tucker Hospice Inpatient Unit in Kannapolis following a brief battle with cancer.

He leaves his wife of fifty years, Libby; his son, Andy (Sasha); his daughter, Shelly (Tim); three grandchildren: Kenny, Carlos, and Nina; and two great grandchildren: Majo and Mikela.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Lena Toler, along with seven siblings:  Muriel; O.H., Jr.; Kerry; Evelyn; Haywood; Harold; and Darrell.

Born and raised in Craven County, Russ spent his early years working on the family’s tobacco farm and attending school. He graduated from Farm Life High School in 1954 and went on to serve in the US Army, 1st Guided Missile Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas from 1959 to 1961.

After serving in the Army, Russ had the opportunity to take part in an engineering apprenticeship with Albermarle Paper Manufacturing, Co. in Roanoke Rapids. He completed his apprenticeship in 1966 and stayed on with the company until 1969, when he accepted a position as a sales engineer for process control equipment at Robert E. Mason, Co. in Charlotte. There he met his future wife (who came fully equipped with two kids and a dog) and served the pulp and paper, chemical, pharmaceutical, and power industries of the Carolinas with excellence for the next 26 years.

After his official retirement in 1995, Russ established R.T. Services, Inc. through which he offered engineering consulting services on an as-needed basis for several years. During this period, he also volunteered much of his time to homebuilding for Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County.

Russ was a follower of Jesus Christ. An active churchgoer for most of his life, he was a charter member of Advent Lutheran Church of Charlotte where he served on the council and dedicated much of his time and efforts to the church’s early establishment. He was also once a member of Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church of Concord, Community in Christ Lutheran Church of Cornelius, and St. Matthews Lutheran Church of Wilmington.

Russ was known to his family, friends and neighbors as a diligent worker dedicated to serving others. He was a loving and loyal son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose wisdom and advice were highly respected. His absence is already profoundly felt.

He enjoyed his family, working outdoors, bird watching, NASCAR and wrestling. Russ will be sorely missed at town council meetings as well as his weekly breakfasts at the local family restaurant.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 1st at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, 3600 Highway 601 South, Concord, NC  28025. Private interment will follow at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5005 Hospice Ln. Kannapolis, NC 28081