Police Identify Woodstock Couple Killed in Bartow Wreck

The Georgia State Patrol has identified the man and woman who were killed by a motorist accused of driving under the influence along Interstate 75 in Bartow County.

Russ and Karen Musgrove of Woodstock died on Thursday, Oct. 30 after a vehicle driven by Charles Larry Porter Jr., 50, of Manchester, Tennessee, struck theirs on the interstate around mile marker 300 near Cartersville, said Georgia State Patrol spokesperson Franka Young.

After the initial impact, the Musgroves’ vehicle “left the roadway, went down an embankment and came to final rest in a tree line,” the state agency told Patch on Saturday.

Porter has been charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, improper stopping on the roadway, open container of alcohol while operating vehicle, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.

Funeral services for the Musgroves will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Hillside United Methodist Church in Towne Lake. Visitation will take place after the service.

Russell Brent Musgrove, 52, was the vice president of claims at Alpharetta-based AXIS Insurance. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Willard and Opal Russell and Christopher and Mary Elizabeth Musgrove and his sister-in-law, Lisa Musgrove.

He leaves behind his three children; mother and father, Dorothy and Orville Musgrove; brother, Jeff Musgrove; sister, Susan Musgrove; and niece and nephews, Nathan, Zac, and Caitlin Musgrove and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Karen Wallace Musgrove, 50, was preceded in death by grandparents Jake and Sue Newman and Marshall Wallace. Along with her three children, she is survived by mother and father, Suzanne and Gary Wallace; grandmother, Virginia Hooper Wallace; siblings, Ken and Sharon Wallace and Amanda and Duane Gilbert; nieces, Grace and Alexis Gilbert; nephews, Garrett and Greyson Wallace, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

According to their obituary, the Musgroves married in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 26, 1988. They moved to Woodstock in 2002 and were the parents of three children: Russell Brent Musgrove, Jr.,24; Jake Marshall Musgrove, 22; and Emily Suzanne Musgrove, 19.

“They committed their lives to teaching them how to live an abundant life filled with hard work and lots of love,” their obituary reads. “They loved being parents and took great joy in that privilege.”

Active members of Hillside United Methodist Church, Karen Musgrove sang on the church’s Praise Team and Russ Musgrove served in various capacities.

“They continued their love story as empty nesters by being loyal and joyful in their relationship,” their obituary notes. “They enjoyed each other’s company and loved traveling together. As a celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary, they took their trip of a lifetime to Italy. They were true examples of how a Christian couple should parent, love and live. They will be greatly missed by everyone who knew them.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Russ and Karen to Hillside United Methodist Church.

Photo: Russ and Karen Musgrove of Woodstock. Credit: Facebook