Russell Dean Thayer was born on June 18, 1944, in Dillsboro Indiana. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior on May 2, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lawrenceburg Indiana. Russell was surrounded by his wife, Sharon (Lewis) of almost 60 years, their 4 children, and their spouses as well as other loved ones and friends. Russell was well known for being a great mechanic and musician, a caring man who loved to joke with everyone but more importantly he wanted everyone to know he loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he was a faithful member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Milan, IN for over 14 years.
Russell and Sharon were teenage sweethearts who were married on July 7, 1963, and to that marriage, they were blessed with 4 children, Russell (Rusty) and Terri of Ainsworth NE, Darrell and Tammy of Moorefield IN, Durhonda and David Drew of Rising Sun and Dwayne and Brandi of Rising Sun. The blessings continued with 9 grandchildren Lindsey Joslin, Rusty Thayer (Jr), Darrell Jr and Kodi Thayer, Aaron and Brittany Thayer, Dylan and Tiffany Drew, Hope Drew, Faith Drew, Jesse Thayer, and Atlanta Young. The blessings kept coming with 11 great-grandchildren Wendi Joslin, Kacee and Emmee Thayer, Peyton and Aubrey Thayer, Hunter and Easton Drew, Arya Mondary, Devon Blevins, Annika, and Zara Underwood.
Russell spent his younger years in Dillsboro, Friendship, and Cross Plains Indiana with his parents and 9 siblings before moving to Rising Sun. Russell was definitely outnumbered by his sisters Jean Howe, Gayla Laker, Retta Callis, Carolyn Walton, Belinda Waller, and Denise Snelling. But thankfully his parents did give him 3 brothers Roger Thayer, Rodney Thayer, and Randy Thayer. Their parents were blessed with a large family that always had lots of fun, smiles, a few fights, and heartaches but there was always love in the house!
Russell was preceded in death by his parents Melvin Leslie Thayer and his precious mother Naomi Slayback, a younger brother Hubert Leslie as well as his 4 brothers-in-law that were also his close friends Richard (Dick) Howe, Scott Walton, Earl Laker, and Steve Callis. His mother and father-in-law Helen and Jesse Lewis and his brother-in-law Clifford Thies.
Funeral services will be 1:00 PM, Monday, May 8th, 2023 at Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun, IN. The services will be officiated by Russell’s sons, Pastor Russell (Rusty) and Pastor Darrell Thayer. Visitation will be 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Monday, May 8th at Markland Funeral Home. Burial will be at Rising Sun New Cemetery. Memorial Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.
marklandfuneralhome.com