Funeral services for Russell J. "Russ" Fisher, a disabled World War II American veteran, 86, Lawton, will be held at 12:30 p.m., Monday, at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Al Potts, pastor, officiating. Mr. Fisher died Thursday, March 11, 2010 following a brief illness. Burial with military honors will be held at the Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, under the direction of Becker Funeral Home. Mr. Fisher was born September 3, 1923 in San Francisco, California, to Thomas Vincent Fisher and Alice Maria McGinney Fisher. He became a foster child at the age of 14 upon the death of his parents, who were killed in a car accident. Russ was then placed in a Catholic foster home until the age of eighteen. He enlisted in the California Coast Artillery, underage, and served with the 3rd Coast Artillery at MacArthur, California. He later became a staff member at the Draftee Reception Center at Fort MacArthur. On June 18, 1941, he enlisted in the United States Army. Following Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia where he became a member of the Basic Inspection Team as a training team member. He traveled throughout the country escorting military members to assigned duty stations. He served with the staff of the Army 9th Corps in the battle of Leyte in the Philippine Islands and later served four months following World War II with the occupation forces in Japan. After his return to the United States, he enlisted for another tour in the U.S. Army, and in a required physical examination, it was discovered that he had pulmonary tuberculosis. Following two years of hospitalization for treatment, he received a medical discharge. He received a 100% certificate of medical disability for discharge April 15, 1948. This condition was determined arrested in July 1956 and medical disability was awarded for the condition incurred during his World War II service. In 1952, he was hired by the Civil Service Commission at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Through his 37 years of service, he worked for the Quartermaster G4, and G3 Training and the Comptroller. From 1976 until 1999, he held the positions of Management Analysis Officer, Director of Directorate of Resource Management and the Deputy Comptroller. Russ was an active volunteer in the Lawton-Fort Sill community. Over the years, he served as a member of the first Fort Sill Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. In the Toastmaster International organization, he was elected Oklahoma District Governor and Oklahoma State Governor. He participated in the City of Lawton Lakes and land Commission and was the Secretary for the First United Methodist Church Council. In addition, he was appointed Chairman of the Comanche County Post Adjudicated Review Board by the Oklahoma Commission of Children and Youth. Prior to his illness, Russ was a volunteer for the Human Resource Department at Southwestern Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, of the home; daughter and son in law, Barbara Ann and Bernard Valdez; a son and daughter in law, Teddy Andrew and Janice Fisher; three grandchildren, Brian Valdez, Jaclyn Mahlmamn and husband Michael and Lori Fisher; one great grandson, Spencer Mahlmamn; two step daughters and a step son in law, Marilyn Kay and Mike Rodriguez and Jeannine Jane Ewing; five step grandchildren, James and Jessica Cantu, Heather Ann and Matthew Blount, Reyna Lynn and Samuel Enoch, Lara Michelle and William Henry Gazi, II, and Amy Catherine and Kevin Dykes; four step great grandchildren, Corbin Dallas Enoch, Michael James Enoch, William Henry Gazi, III, and Tyson Hayes. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation, 2602 NW Ferris, Lawton OK 73505.