Honoring Army Veteran Dr. William Bruce Russell
A Life of Service, Medicine, and Family
At Gilchrist, we are proud to honor those who have served our country through our We Honor Veterans program. One recent tribute celebrated the life and service of Dr. William Bruce Russell, Sr., an Army veteran and beloved physician whose commitment to both his country and community left a lasting legacy.
A Distinguished Life of Medicine and Military Service
Born in 1928 in Harmony Village, Virginia, Dr. Russell graduated from high school in 1945 and went on to study biology at Virginia Union College. He earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 1953. In 1955, Dr. Russell entered the U.S. Army as a captain in the Army Medical Corps. He served primarily at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and also spent time at Fort Drum, New York, before concluding his military service in 1957.
Following his Army service, Dr. Russell dedicated his life to practicing medicine—particularly as an orthopedic surgeon. He ran his own practice, consulted with the VA and Social Security Administration, and cared for patients in penal institutions and mental hospitals. Even after retiring from surgery, he continued seeing patients into his 90s as a staff physician with a Maryland healthcare provider.
A Loving Family Man
Dr. Russell met his wife, Alice Marie Ward, in 1951 while he was a medical student and she was a student nurse at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. They married in 1958 and shared nearly 35 years of marriage. Together, they raised four children and celebrated the joy of two grandsons.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Russell loved reading, especially John Grisham novels, working crossword puzzles, singing in his church choir, and traveling for medical conferences. His faith and family were central to his life, and he remained dedicated to both until his final days.
A Meaningful Salute to Service
In recognition of his military service, Gilchrist honored Dr. Russell with a Salute to Service tribute—part of the national We Honor Veterans program, which partners with the Veterans Administration to ensure veterans receive respectful, compassionate care at the end of life.
Dr. Russell’s ceremony began with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, accompanied by a Gilchrist music therapist. He was then presented with a We Honor Veterans pin, a certificate from Gilchrist, a handmade patriotic blanket crafted by a Gilchrist volunteer, and a heartfelt thank-you card from a local student. The tribute concluded with patriotic songs, including the Army song. In a moving moment, when the veteran team saluted Dr. Russell, he proudly returned the salute. A final prayer and the singing of God Bless America closed the ceremony.
Honoring Veterans with Compassion
Gilchrist’s We Honor Veterans program recognizes that veterans have unique needs at the end of life. Through meaningful tributes like Dr. Russell’s, we ensure every veteran feels appreciated, respected, and supported. As we reflect on Dr. Russell’s remarkable life, we are reminded of the many ways our veterans continue to serve long after they take off the uniform—through their careers, families, and communities.
To learn more about Gilchrist’s We Honor Veterans program, visit:
gilchristcares.org/we-honor-veterans