- Date Of Birth: May 26, 1922
- Date Of Death: January 26, 2022
- State: Indiana
Dr.
He was born in Casey, IL, the eldest of four children, to Charles Edward and Cecile Floe (Ratts) Mumford on May 26th, 1922. The son of an oilfield worker, he grew up in the country, in a company house, and attended a one room school. The family supplemented their income by raising livestock, keeping a large garden, hunting, and fishing. At the age of 9, Russell caught a nice mink in a muskrat trap and traded it to the local hardware store for a .22 rifle. Once armed, he immediately began supplying meat for the family table and going on late night coon hunts with his Dad. His childhood excursions in pursuit of fish and game fostered a deep lifelong affinity for the wild places, and the creatures that inhabit them. When it was time for high school, Russell moved to town, living with his aunt and uncle, and his cousin Grover Hartman, so he could attend Casey Township High School. Later in life, he and Grover would marry sisters. During high school, Russell excelled scholastically, and in track and basketball as well. In his senior year, the Casey Warriors basketball team made a deep run for the State Championship, despite being a small school.
After high school Russell went to work in a steel mill in Northern Indiana to earn money for college. When the United States entered WWII, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the South Pacific, stationed in Hawaii. He later became a field medic for the U.S. Marine Corps, and played on a very good Marine Corps basketball team, The Bulldogs. With an increased need for doctors, Russell was transferred to ROTC at DePauw University for medical studies under the V12 Program. While there, he also played on the basketball team. After the war ended, Russell transferred to Purdue University to pursue a career in his one true interest, wildlife. While working towards his goal, you guessed it, he played basketball. On June 7, 1947, he married Vivian Alice Tate in her hometown of Brazil, Indiana. Over Russell’s 40+ years with Purdue, he went from student to Full Professor. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Management, and was the first person at Purdue to ever receive a PhD in Wildlife Management. He taught Ornithology and Mammalogy, wrote “Distribution of the Mammals of Indiana”, co-authored “Mammals of Indiana” with John Whitaker of Indiana State University, and co-authored “Birds of Indiana” with Charles Keller. Russell wrote numerous publications, won numerous awards, traveled the world teaching and doing research, most notably in the countries of Kenya, South Africa, and Brazil. He was a research associate of mammals for the Smithsonian Institution. He was involved with the Audubon Society for 60+ years. After his retirement from Purdue in 1988, he and Vivian traveled the world. He was always eager to see new places, new birds, and animals. He also spent a lot of time on the auction/flea market/antique store circuit, collecting antique fishing lures and duck calls. He knew every backroad in Indiana, and rarely used maps. Russell also enjoyed fishing, photography, and spent a lot of time carving and painting. He was a very accomplished and prolific artist. He developed an interest in butterflies and dragonflies, and enjoyed chasing them with a camera. He still did field research and in 2011 co-authored “Birdlife of Dubois County Indiana” with Theresia Schwinghammer. In his later years, Russell took up fly-tying, worked on photo albums of he and Vivian’s travels, and wrote his memoirs. Russell was kind. He had a good sense of humor. He was eternally optimistic, and was always ready for the next adventure. He was generous with his time, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience with others, especially the young. His love of the wild places never left him.
Russell was preceded in passing by his sisters, Winifred June Bliss of Hobart, IN and Betty Jean Gillespie of Terre Haute, IN. His youngest sister, Carolyn Jane Depratt of Danville, IL survives.
Also surviving, along with his wife, Vivian, are a daughter, Jean Lynne Lesley (husband Michael) of Lafayette; sons, James Lee Mumford (wife MaryAnne) of Newburgh, IN, and Russell Eugene Mumford Jr. (between wives) of West Lafayette, IN; grandchildren, Jessica Lynne Jeffery of Surprise, AZ, John Marwood Jeffery III of Flagstaff, AZ; great-grandchildren, Jaelynne, Andrew, Maresha, and Charlee.
