Cpt. (Ret.) Paul Russell Northup, 81, of Mound City, Missouri, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at a healthcare facility in Mound City.

“Russ” was born July 15, 1942 in Aunt Ina's home in Nodaway, Iowa, the son of Paul Richard and Dorothy (Williams) Northup. He graduated from Villisca Community High School in 1960, Villisca, Iowa. He then attended the former Clarinda Junior College in Clarinda, Iowa, where he played basketball for two years. He then attended University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville in 1965. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and was their Distinguished Advisor for twelve years, recognized in 1993 by its national chapter as Grand Prytanis Key Leader, and member of Order of the Shield. While attending college he worked for Chicago-Burlington & Quincy Railroad during various summers.

On May 20, 1966, he entered the United States Navy and began Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He married Rita Renee Sharp on December 30, 1966, at the First Christian Church, Mound City, Missouri. They moved to Groton, Connecticut in 1967, where Russ attended Submarine School as part of the United States Navy. In July, 1967, they moved to Key West, Florida, where he was assigned to the U.S.S. Atule SS-403. In June 1969, their first daughter, Paula Renee, was born in Key West. Then he transferred to U.S. Navy Supply Corp School in Athens, Georgia. He then moved and was assigned to U.S.S. Ethan Allen SSBN-608 in Groton, Connecticut in 1970, where Russ was stationed until 1972. He then transferred to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was assigned to the Ships Parts Control Center from 1972 to 1974, where their second daughter, Anne, was born in Camp Hill, PA. In 1974, the family moved to Singapore where Russ was Supply-Contracting Officer at U.S. Navy Office Singapore, where he was stationed until 1977, when they moved back to Mound City, Missouri. Captain Northup retired from the United States Navy in 1994 after 28 years of service.

Upon moving back to Mound City, he took over day to day operations of Sharp Ford-Mercury until 1983. In 1983, he became President of Tiffany Care Centers, Inc. in Mound City and served on the board until selling the business in 1998. In 1989, he returned to Northwest Missouri State University to complete his MBA and became Assistant Professor, receiving “Teacher of The Year” in 1992. During his tenure at NWMSU he served as advisor for the American Marketing Association and the Turkish Student Association, as Faculty Athletic Representative from 1998 to 2004, and a stint as the athletics department- compliance director. He received the 1997 Tower Service Award for Faculty and the 2004 Distinguished Faculty Award from Northwest Missouri State Alumni Association, retiring from NWMSU in 2005. Russ was inducted into the NWMSU “M” Club Hall of Fame with a Meritorious Service Award on October 17, 2008.

He was a member of Christian Fellowship Church in Mound City, the Paul P. Shutts American Legion Post #121, and an avid fan of Southern Gospel music. They loved to travel and spend time with their family.

He was preceded by his parents, Paul and Dorothy (Williams) Northup; Father-In-Law and Mother-In-Law, Garth and Dorotha (Depew) Sharp.

Survivors include his wife, Rita Northup of the home; two daughters and their husbands, Paula Renee and Jonathan Miller of Mound City and Parkville, Missouri, and Anne Nicole and James Dudeck of Oregon, Missouri; four grandchildren, Sarah Hill and her husband, Brendan of Kansas City, Joel Dudeck of Springfield, Missouri, Isaac Dudeck and Elise Dudeck of Oregon, Missouri; brother, Dennis Northup (Reva) of Springfield, Missouri; two nephews, Brian Northup (Lisa), and Brent Northup (Rosey); and love her like a daughter, Kate Jones (Mike).

Memorial Service 1:00 PM Thursday, July 11, 2024 at Christian Fellowship Church, Mound City. Family will receive friends following the service. Inurnment at a later date, I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Craig, Missouri. Military Honors under the auspices of the Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program and Paul P. Shutts Post #121, American Legion. Memorials can be made to “The Russ Northup Marketing Scholarship”, c/o Northwest Foundation, 800 University Drive, Maryville, Missouri 64468. Online guest book and obituary at www.pettijohncrawford.com.