Russell Varnum, 70, a lifelong resident of Mineola, died on March 8, 1999 at Winthrop-University Hospital where he was born. He was an agricultural student at SUNY Farmingdale and received his degree in 1951. He was in the Marine Corps serving for two years as a corporal in the Korean War.

Mr. Varnum was a sergeant in charge of the Nassau County Jail's honor farms in Plainview, Uniondale and East Meadow. When the jails closed in 1984 he became a sergeant in charge of maintenance and supplies. Officials named the road that runs past the garden and an old farm barn Varnum Ave. to mark Mr. Varnum's 40th anniversary. He was active in the South Shore Symphony of Rockville Centre, the LI Senior Pops Orchestra and he played for the Nassau Pops Orchestra. He was an officer with the Mineola High School Alumni Association

Mr. Varnum was the husband of Kathryn; stepfather of Barbara Bouton, Judith Turner and the late Kathleen Turner; grandfather of Robert Storey, Wendy Buerge and Jason Poppe; Great-grandfather of Cassandra Storey; brother of Harvey Varnum; uncle of Ronald and Russell Varnum and Valerie Walker. Arrangements were made by the Weigand Bros. Funeral Home, Williston Park. Services were held with a full NC Sheriff's Dept. Honor Guard. Interment will be at a later date in Margaretville, NY.

Mary E. Christensen, of Mineola, died on March 12, 1999. Sister of Charles Petherbridge, the late Catherine Petherbridge, Teresa Walsh, Margaret Sutton and Helen Murphy. Aunt of Gloria Bourne. Arrangements were made by the Cassidy Funeral Home, Mineola. Funeral Mass at Corpus Christi Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.