Dr. Russell Thomas Mitts

1923 - 2017

Dr. Russell Thomas Mitts

May 21, 1923 - March 14, 2017

Fresno

Beloved Dr. Russell Thomas Mitts was born May 21, 1923, to Roger and Minnerva Mitts in Dunbar, Pennsylvania; a small town west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the third oldest of four children in the Mitts family; the eldest Roger, the youngest Murray, and the middle sister Carley. They soon moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania living in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. He graduated from Westinghouse High School as its Salutatorian and then went to the University of Pittsburgh on a full scholarship. After one year, he transferred to Columbia College in Washington DC, joined the ROTC and graduated with a BA in 1943. Joining the US Army immediately after, he also was accepted to medical school at Loma Linda University in California. While attending medical school, he walked by a tall beautiful girl named Virginia Hackman. After passing each other in between medical school classes, they both turned around to "check" each other out. They soon were dating and were married March 27, 1943, in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Mitts finished medical school and did his internship at LA County Hospital systems. He and Virginia had two children; Ginney in 1944 and Thomas in 1947. Dr. Mitts served his country as an army surgeon at Pine Camp, New York and Fort Benning, Georgia. He was discharge honorably with a rank of Captain. Dr. Mitts moved his family to Visalia in the summer of 1949. His brother Roger was a physician in Visalia and needed help. His first friend in town was Thoburn Haworth, and their friendship lasted until their deaths. He bought his first car from Al McAuliff in Visalia. Dr. Mitts was active in his church and was a founder of Sierra View Academy in Exeter. He donated his time and money to education and local charities in Visalia. During his long medical career, he delivered over 10,000 babies in the Visalia area. He took care of people's health and welfare, sometimes without payment and never counted or worried. He paid for several different young people to attend college. We remember an itinerant farm laborer who knocked on our door at home one afternoon. The gentleman explained who he was and that 20 years before Dr. Mitts had removed a ruptured appendix from him. At that time, he had no money and was there to pay his old medical bill. He gave Dr Mitts $35.00 and expressed his sincere appreciation. Our Dad just smiled, knowing that the impact we can have on the lives of others is immeasurable.

Dr. Mitts lost his dear wife to cancer in 1983. She was the love of his life and he never remarried. He had three grandchildren and four great grandchildren and was known to them affectionately as "Papa". He had lived in a retirement home in Fresno from 2015 until his death on March 13, 2017. Dr. Russell Mitts was beloved by his family, his patients, his church and the community. He was a voracious reader of books-mainly history, and a truly gifted, generous, wise man who touched many lives. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his honor to the charity of your choice. Services will be private. A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.