Russell Allen Farrar was born at home on May 11, 1941, in Lillie, Louisiana and left this earth to live in the Kingdom of Heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 23, 2026. Allen was the son of James Dell Farrar and Mattie Smith Farrar. He was the seventh child out of eight children. Allen attended Bernice High School and graduated in May of 1959. After graduation he began working at the Ludlow Corporation in Homer, Louisiana. In 1965, he enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard until 1971. In 1969, he married the love of his life Mildred “Vernette” Pennington. They were married for 48 years until her death on December 17, 2017. After her death, we said dad was like a duck in the desert, not quite sure what to do with himself. During her illness, he was her primary caretaker and what he did not know, he learned. We are so proud of you dad for the love and care you showed her during that time. He retired from Ludlow to begin being a full-time farmer. He owned and operated his own farm from 1970 until 2002. He loved raising cattle and bailing hay. He worked at Lake D’Arbonne State Park in Farmerville, Louisiana from 2002 until July 2012. He retired from officially working in 2013 and began his other job of making sure the “honey do list” that mom created was completed. But really, they both loved working in the yard, sitting on the porch swinging and trying to solve the world’s problems with a good cup of coffee. Now, they are both free of these earthly worries, sipping coffee and enjoying the most beautiful views that heaven has to offer.
To know dad was to love him. He was the best dad in the world and we would choose him over and over again. He had the kindest heart and would do anything he could to help you. Allen lived in Lillie, Louisiana all of his life until August 2009. All of their children had moved to West Monroe, Louisiana. So, being good parents, they followed them there to be closer to them. He was a proud member of First Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana and really enjoyed his Sunday School Class. Allen liked John Wayne movies, Elvis Presley’s singing, and his two favorite places to eat, Port-Au-Prince and Log Cabin. He liked working outside and could fix almost anything.
He is preceded in death by his wife Mildred “Vernette” Pennington Farrar, his parents James Dell Farrar and Mattie Smith Farrar, his four sisters – Wilba Farrar, Lottie Waite, Ruegon Dial, Joan Farris, his three brothers – James Burroughs Farrar, Lee Odis Farrar and Connie Farrar, and his grandson Ayden Russell Farrar. Oh, to be there when this sweet reunion happened, I can only imagine.
Left to cherish his memories are his children: Paula Farrar (Jeff), Heather Strang (Scott), Melanie Thornhill, and Rusty Farrar (Tressa). His grandchildren: Rachael Treadway, Kinsley Treadway, Vivien Strang, Ashley Patton, Landon Patton, Molly Thornhill, Ian Stutzman (Lindsay) and Gracyn Farrar. Great grandchildren: Mallory Jo and one on the way.
Services for Allen will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Bernice, LA. Officiating the service will be Dr. Chris Craig and Brother Phillip Farris. Interment will follow at Union Grove Cemetery in Lillie, LA. A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM, Friday, March 27, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston, LA.
Pallbearers are Gary Farrar, Ricky Farrar, Mike Farris, J.D. Farris, Adam Farris, and Jason Holmes. Honorary Pallbearers will be his over 70+ Men’s Sunday School Class.
Special thanks to Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, LA, UMMC in Jackson, MS, and Ouachita Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Monroe, Louisiana with special thanks going out to Brandi Brasher NP, Nurse Brandy, Nurse Kesha, and his two favorite CNA’s Breonna Marks and Nekeshia Plater. You ladies are special and we love you! Brandi Brasher, you are the backbone of that facility, and you are amazing!
