Peter "Pete" Lind Russell

Mr. Peter Lind “Pete” Russell, 77, of Elkhart, passed away at Elkhart General Hospital with his wife Debra by his side on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, following an extended battle with a rather stubborn illness. He was born on February 19, 1946, to the late Leonard and Jane (LaBelle) Russell. He later married Debra J. Carpenter, who survives him at home.

Also surviving Pete are his sons Travis J. (Jennifer) Russell from Granger and London L. Russell of Elkhart; daughter Melissa A. (Brandon) Dierckx of Goshen; brother Leonard (Lynne) Russell, Jr. of South Bend; grandchildren Beau (Amanda) Morris, Chandler Morris, Addison Dierickx, Brant Swinehart, Travis J. Russell II, Miranda (Cody) Hoelyfield, Amber (Nathan) Schwartz, Dallas Russell and Myranda Stewart; great-grandchildren Hudson Todd Morris, Carter and Presley Hoelyfield,  Rory and Abel Russell, Talen Thornburg and Anikin, McKenzie, Esther, Jayden, Autumn, Wyatt, McKenna and Lila Schwartz, as well as a large host of extended family, good friends, racing buddies and work colleagues. Pete is preceded in death by a son, Todd B. Swinehart, and a grandson, Austin Miller.

Crossroads Community Church, 57415 Alpha Drive, Goshen (at CR 17 and CR 18) will be honored to host Pete’s homegoing services on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm, followed by a memorial celebration of Pete’s life at 3:00 pm. Services will be officiated by Pastor Doug Boquist and, in accordance to the family’s wishes, Pete was cremated.

Pete was a “bigger than life” kind of guy who, as described by his family, was either racing or working. No doubt Pete had a love for that asphalt track, and it kept him busy his whole life.

After high school, Pete’s interest in racing peaked, and to make a long story short, Pete went on to win the 1966 NHRA Drag Racing Winter Nationals in Florida in a black Chevy Biscayne. That single event kind of set the theme for the rest of Pete’s life, and he was forever hooked. In a very interesting turn of events, Pete found that same old black Biscayne decades later sitting abandoned in an overgrown field. He eventually acquired that car and restored it back to its original racing condition. Back in Elkhart, Pete opened up “Pete Russell’s Speed Shop”, an automotive parts and accessory shop that kept Pete busy when he wasn’t on the racing circuit. Pete’s shop parking lot would be filled with Camaros, Goats, Challengers, Novas…..you name it, the kids drove there in hordes and bought up as many Cragars, Hooker Headers and Thrush Exhaust systems as their allowances or summer jobs would afford them.  The late 60’s and 70’s was the perfect time for Muscle Cars, complete with Van Halen or Aerosmith blasting out of the double Jensen Tri-axials mounted in the deck behind the rear seat, and a pioneer cassette player in the dash.

In the late 70’s Pete moved the Speed Shop to its final location on Franklin Street and about a decade later, he used the location to modify, restore and customize older cars. He then eventually opened up an RC hobby shop there in the 1990’s. RC racers from all over could come and race on Pete’s huge carpeted indoor track. Despite his business commitments, he remained active in the racing circuit and still even continued building show cars on the side. He was a loving family man, but the flame of racing burned hot in Pete’s blood and Friday Nights were always reserved for racing.

When he wasn’t behind the wheel or at work, Pete enjoyed spending time with his family, playing with his dogs A.J. and Lucy and attending services whenever he could at Crossroads Community Church in Elkhart.  As a final thought, it is requested that if you own a muscle car, please drive it there to the service and honor Pete’s memory with one final assembly of cars in his name!

Friends and family may leave memories, condolences and pictures on Pete’s obit page on the Billings Funeral Home website. Memorial donations will go to the Pete L. Russell Memorial Fund in care of his family. Thank you for your interest in his life story!

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