Russell Dougherty Bennett

Russell (Russ) D Bennett died on April 15, 2026, at his home in Oklahoma City. He was 80 years old.

He was born in Oklahoma City and named after his uncle, Russell Dougherty, the first Edmond High School graduate to die in WWII. Russell Dougherty Grade School in Edmond was also named for him.

Russ attended Oklahoma City schools and graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1963. He then attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he received a BA degree. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Both Westminster and his Beta brothers meant the world to him, and he considered his undergraduate years among the best of his life. Russ was also in ROTC Army Reserves during this time.

In 1970, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma Law School. As a young attorney, he practiced for several years in Oklahoma City before moving to Lawton, OK to become City Attorney. For the last 30 years of his career, he was a civilian attorney in the JAG office at Fort Sill.

Russ was a founding member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lawton. The church was another experience that he treasured. In 2008, he married a fellow member, Sandy Unruh. Following his retirement from Ft. Sill, he and Sandy moved back to Oklahoma City where his roots were.

He was a voracious reader and history buff. He particularly loved WWI and Oklahoma history. Russ also loved community theater and was an active supporter and occasional actor in Lawton Community Theater. He was most proud of his role in Wait Until Dark.

Russ is survived by his wife, Sandy and two sisters, Paula Dunn of Levelland, TX and Melody Johnson of Tulsa; two daughters, Mikel Shannon Bennett and Jordan Grace Bennett of Austin, TX; one stepdaughter, Tamara Bennett of Edmond, OK.; and five grandchildren: Thayer, Kai, and Ester Wren, of Austin; Aidan and Ayla of Edmond, OK.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

A Memorial service will be held at 2pm, May 30, 2026 at 2 pm at First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 600 NW 13th St.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City Endowment Fund in honor of Russell Dougherty Bennett. Checks can be made payable to First Unitarian Church Endowment Fund, with a note in the memo line “IMO Russ Bennett”.