| Graduation Year | Class of 1952 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 11, 2022 |
| About | Sarah Russell Angel (Sally), 88, of Lynn Haven, Florida, passed away at home on January 11, 2022, after a brave battle with cancer. She was born in 1933 in Zanesville, Ohio, the second of four children of the late Delmar and Thelma Russell. She graduated from Zanesville High School in 1952 before moving to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University (1954-1955) where she delighted in performing in the quartet adagio act in FSU's Flying High Circus. She shared fond memories of college life, including late-night socials in her Landis Hall dorm, playing cards, dancing, and a chance encounter having ice cream with Buddy (Burt) Reynolds, who was also a student. She left FSU to marry the late Philip C. Davis and start a family, but she remained a lifelong Seminoles fan. Sally and Phil moved from Tallahassee to Atlanta and while their marriage wouldn't last as they'd hoped, Sally was a loving mother dedicated to raising their two daughters, Krysta and Shari. After 1964, Sally earned her real estate license and began a rewarding career. It was at work that she met her second husband, the late Leonard H. Edwards, Jr. (Lonnie). Lonnie had three loving children from a previous marriage, Len, Nancy, and Robert, who were welcomed into the family. Sally and Lonnie had one child, their daughter, Patrice. They moved from Atlanta to Florida where Sally continued her career in real estate, but she also worked part-time and enjoyed restoring antiques, briefly opening a shop in St. Augustine named Sally's Alley. Sally loved living in the historic city and spending time at the beach. Although Sally and Lonnie decided to end their marriage, she remained in St. Augustine to sell real estate and was very successful, becoming an award-winning broker. Sally had a fun-loving adventurous spirit and wanderlust and enjoyed traveling with her third husband, the late Ralph W. Angel, Sr., whom she met in Crescent Beach, Florida, and married in 1979. They visited Europe, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Canada, and many cities in the US, often accompanied by family and friends. Sally loved reading, working the daily crossword, and playing Scrabble and bridge, but most of all she found joy in gardening. As a child, she learned an appreciation of gardening from her paternal grandfather, and it became essential to her life. She developed a remarkable "green thumb" and had beautiful ornamental and vegetable gardens wherever she lived. After moving from Marietta, Georgia to Destin, Florida, she became a Florida Master Gardener in Walton County, and volunteered in the program for over ten years, sharing her horticulture knowledge with residents and school children. She was kind and generous, also dedicating time to volunteer at Eden Gardens State Park and Sacred Heart Hospital, working in the gift shops and greeting visitors. In retirement Sally found more time to nurture her creativity, working in leaded glass, needlepoint, knitting, and crochet. She took art lessons and with encouragement from friends became an accomplished watercolor artist, exhibiting her paintings at shows and local galleries. She attended college to learn Spanish, played tennis, and joined the Hurricane Lanes Bowling League. She cherished time spent with her family, especially her beloved grandchildren, children and grand-dog Patty Cake. She was loved and adored by many and will be missed immensely. Sally is survived by her daughter, Patrice Edwards Couch (Larry); stepchildren, Barbara Len Starr, Nancy Ruth Snow and Robert Leonard Edwards, Sr. (Cindy); grandchildren, Sarah M. Coleman, Erin R. Coleman and Theresa Coleman Hughes (Jack); sister, Susie Ferlita (Angelo); nieces, Gay Lynn Love (Scott), Gwen Russell-Fox (Danny), Gail Roessel (Tom), Michelle Ferlita, Debra Laveck and Jane Mitchell (Ralph); nephews, Sam Ferlita, P.J. Ferlita, John Russell and Edward Russell; and extended family members in Florida and Ohio. Sally was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Ralph William Angel, Sr.; daughters, Krysta Kai Davis and Shari Davis Coleman; grandson William Russell Couch; parents, Delmar Eugene and Thelma Bernice Russell; brothers, Delmar Eugene Russell, Jr. and David Roger Russell. Sally will be inurned with Ralph W. Angel, Sr. (USAF, Col. Ret.) at Barrancas National Cemetery, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida on March 4, 2022, at 11:30 am, in a private service for family. Retired Navy Chaplain Ken Griffin will officiate. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date to include friends. |
