Rev. Russell J. Varner

Russell J. Varner, 95, of Cuyahoga Falls, passed away on November 2, 2026. He was born on June 1, 1931 the son of Albert and Alpha Varner of Covington, VA. Russell proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a POW for over three years. He was a man of great faith and was a Pastor for 40 years at Faith Free Will Baptist Church. Russell retired after 35 years of dedicated service from the Ford Co. He enjoyed bowling and was on many different leagues. He was an avid Cleveland sports fan. In his later years he loved to travel and especially looked forward to visiting Branson, Mo and Nashville, TN. He will always be remembered for his beloved four-legged companions, his infectious smile, his faithfulness to God and family, and most importantly the love in his heart to all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty Jean Varner; granddaughter Laura Hughes; son-in-law Frank Mitchell; and brothers Richard, Raymond, and Albert.

Russell is survived by his loving family, daughter Deborah Mitchell; son Gary (Diane) Varner; granddaughter Jennifer (Bill) Hitchcock; great-grandsons Cody, Brady, and Dylan; and beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, Nov. 9th at Newcomer Funeral Home (131 N. Canton Rd., Akron).

A private interment will be held at Northlawn Memorial Garden.

To share a memory of Russell or leave a special message for his family, visit the guest book below.