Oakland

Russell Pouncy, 89

Published

7 years ago

October 14, 2018

Russell Pouncy, 89, was born on Dec. 28, 1928 and raised in Westmoreland, California. He was the third of twelve children. Throughout his life’s adventures, Pouncy was forever the devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He departed this life on September 27, 2018 at the Mercy Hospice Center in Oakland.

As a very confident, hard working and highly motivated individual, Pouncy spent his working years in the Army, Coast Guard, and real estate. After graduating from McClymonds High School, he entered the Army at the young age of seventeen and served as a Wench Operator in Guam during World War II. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he volunteered for the United States Coast Guard and entered into communications school in Groton, Connecticut, Upon graduation, Pouncy returned to California where he served aboard several different Coast Guard ships, to include the USCGC Iroquois (WHEC-43), a high-endurance icebreaker ship and the USCGGC Storis (W-38) which was one of the four vessels to circumnavigate the North West Passage through the Arctic Ocean. Pouncy was stationed in the 12th Coast Guard District for most of his career.

In 1965, Pouncy was stationed at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he was promoted to Warrant Officer. Upon returning to California, he was selected to be an AMVER Officer for foreign merchant vessels that visited Northern California ports. In 1971, he was transferred to the Coast Guard radio station in Long Beach, as an Executive Officer. After serving in that capacity, he was promoted to Commanding Officer in 1975 until his retirement in 1976. Mr. Pouncy later joined the Valva Realty Company and the Oakland Realty Board as a salesman. After a successful 20-year career in real estate, He retired in 1996.

Russell was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Juanita Jean Sullivan Pouncy, his adoring son Russell Tyrone Pouncy and Great-Granddaughter Milah Graham. He leaves to cherish his memory a host of family members and friends.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC