SMALLEY, Russell Bruce 1940-2007
SMALLEY, BOWER, EVANS, SELKEN, GARVEY
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 11/15/2014 at 23:58:01
[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Thursday, April 12, 2007]
Russell Bruce Smalley, 67, died April 7, 2007, in Tulsa, Okla., of lung cancer.
Russ was born March 31, 1940, to Walter and Marion (Bower) Smalley of Mount Auburn. He attended school in Vinton. As a young man, Russ worked for Jim Kirk of Vinton as a farm hand. Then moving on to Waterloo where his life's work in trucking began at Kroblin Refrigerated Express, working with his brother, Dick, dispatching trucks back and forth daily for Rath Packing Co. Staying with trucking, he also worked with other transportation outfits in the Waterloo area. Russ then moved to Tulsa, along with Kroblin, where he began hauling over the road and dispatching. Becoming owner/operator of his own semi, he ran routes for the family owned business, RBS Express of Waterloo. After retiring, his love for trucking didn't stop, you would find him at the truck stop telling his tales with the current and retired drivers, and of course, the rookies. His strong presence at the truck plaza awarded him the name "Mayor of Mayberry."
Never having a accident during his career, he received the Safe Driving Award from the American Trucking Association. His love for motorcycles and hill climbing took him to Canada in 1971 where he won the national championship.
His surviving family included two daughters, Tammie (Mike) Evans and Renee Selken, both of Vinton; four grandchildren, Jennifer, Michelle, Abbie and John R.; two brothers, Roger Smalley (Carole) of Florida and Ron (Carolyn) Smalley of Vinton; sister-in-law, Marge Smalley of Waterloo; along with many nieces and nephews and their families, who all held a special place in his heart.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a brother, Dick Smalley; a sister, Beth Garvey; and a grandchild, Gracie.
A memorial fund has been established for the Clarehouse in Tulsa, Okla. Donations can be sent to Tammie Evans, 5724 22nd Avenue Drive, Vinton, IA 52349.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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