Russell H. McQuain Jr.

Russell H. McQuain Jr., 84, of Belle died at home July 19, 2008, after a long illness.
Russell was a Christian and practiced his faith within the Presbyterian tradition. He was a member and elder at Belle Presbyterian Church.
Reared in the Gilmer County town of Glenville, he was the only child of the late Russell H. Sr. and Audrey McMorrow McQuain.
Russell graduated from Glenville High School in 1941. His undergraduate studies at Glenville State College were interrupted during World War II as he joined the United States Navy. He proudly served his country as a sonar man upon a minesweeper ship, primarily in the Pacific Theatre of Operations.
After the war, Russell completed his undergraduate studies at Glenville State College, where he was editor of the college newspaper and a member of the band. Following the completion of his graduate studies at West Virginia University, he briefly taught at Man High School in Logan County before working for the state of West Virginia in several positions. Some of the state agencies he worked for included the Public Service Commission, Rehabilitation Services and Behavioral Health. However, the position that was most fulfilling for him was as executive director to the Commission on Mental Retardation. This agency was responsible for implementing federal guidelines and strategies to end the practice of warehousing developmentally delayed individuals within institutional settings and, instead, integrating them into community-based residential and workshop training/employment settings that promoted dignity, development and opportunities.
Russell was a Mason as well as a Shriner at the Beni Kedem Shrine Center, Charleston, where he was a member of the Gold Band Unit. He was an outstanding trombonist and enjoyed playing with the band's Dixieland Ensemble. He admired the improvisational aspects of Dixieland jazz and the freedom of expression it afforded him as a musician.
The family offers our gratitude to the medical community that provided care to Russell over the years and, in particular, to the following physicians: cardiologist, Stafford Warren; oncologist/hematologist, Steven Jubelirer; and family practitioner, Reginald McClung, who all helped to ensure him the best quality of life possible.
Russell is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 50 years, Betty Martin McQuain; daughter, Anne McQuain Dushkoff and son-in-law, Dr. Robert B. Dushkoff, of Washington; son, David H. McQuain and daughter-in-law, Tonya McQuain, of Winfield; and four grandchildren, Lauren Rebecca Dushkoff (19), Merideth Anne Dushkoff (16), David Brandon Dushkoff (11) and Thornton Tyler McQuain (11).
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at Fidler & Frame Funeral Home, Belle, with the Rev. Denny Dodson officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Russell H. McQuain Jr. Memorial Fund, c/o Belle Presbyterian Church, 407 E. 7th St., Belle, WV 25015, or the Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Lexington Shriners Hospital, 1900 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502-1204, providing free orthopedic and burn care to children.