Biography

Russel (Russ) Allen Wight passed away peacefully on May 4, 2010 at St. Helena Hospital and Health Center. Born in Oakland on March 26, 1923 to Russel Crooks Wight and Charlotte Klinkner Wight, Russ was a sixth generation descendant of the Spanish land grant Vaca and Pena families. He spent his early years in Berkeley roller skating on the pier, and delivering newspapers before sunup with his Uncle Bob. In 6th grade he moved to St. Helena where he made many friends, including JL whose initials he carved on his hunting knife sheath. Life in the country included membership in Boy Scout Troop 1 and fly-fishing on Conn Creek with his sister, Marilyn, and his pal, Paul Galleron, before Lake Hennessey was built.
Russ graduated from St. Helena High School in 1941 and enlisted in the Navy. Following flight school, he joined Squadron VBP-149 as a Ventura PV-1 bomber pilot. While taking his flying duties seriously, he had the opportunity to become an amateur boxer and to fly at least one “training mission” to Cuba to purchase cigars as well as nylon stockings for wives and girlfriends. He is also remembered for buzzing the St. Helena Bank of America, where Janice worked, in a twin-engine bomber while stationed in Alameda. He saw action in the Pacific Theatre, mostly in the Philippines, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor. At the end of the war, on September 5, 1945, Russ married JL, Janice Lewelling in St. Helena. The couple relocated to the East Coast where he was stationed.
Following his honorable discharge, he and Janice moved to El Cerrito. Russ found employment perfecting his gunsmithing at King Gun Sight Company in San Francisco, a skill he used later in servicing firearms for the St. Helena Police Department. During this period, he trained on a sharpshooting team that included two 1948 Olympians and won many medals for his marksmanship. As recently as a year ago he demonstrated his skill by eradicating varmints from his back yard.
While in the Bay Area, the family welcomed their first son, David. In 1950, shortly after the birth of their second son, Douglas, Russ chose to forgo college and return his family to St. Helena. Here Russ was mentored in farming by his father-in-law, Lester “Heavy” Lewelling, with whom he developed a special bond. While working full-time at Mare Island, he single-handedly built the family home on Lewelling Lane. A third son, Alan, joined the family in 1964.
After “retirement” in 1979, Russ hand-planted and carefully tended R and J Vineyards and was a partner in his sons’ venture, Lewelling Vineyards and Wine Company. Russ was also devoted to raising his boys, being the Troop 1 Scout Master, taking family camping trips, hunting deer, faceting gemstones, making jewelry, tying flies, digging clams, diving for abalone, hiking, backpacking, playing the trumpet in the North Bay Wind Ensemble, listening to jazz, traveling to England and New Zealand, volunteering at Bothe Park, and being part of the chain crew at St. Helena High School football games until 2007. His interest in fly-fishing led to him being a founder/charter member of the Napa Valley Fly Fishers and many happy hours fishing on and falling into streams throughout Northern California.
Russ will be most missed for his dedication to family and friends, his gentle kindness, cheerfulness, and ability to make others comfortable, his sense of humor and wit, his ability to fix or do anything, his love of Christmas, his fearlessness, his romantic ways, and his dashing good looks.
Russ was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Janice, and his sister, Marilyn Wight Dewey. He is survived by his son David and his wife, Susan, of St. Helena; son Douglas and his wife, Linda Mews, of St. Helena; and son Alan and his wife, Shelly Hernandez, of Petaluma. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Haley, Neal, Lynn and Marin Wight; a grandson-in-law, Erik Dodd; and a great-granddaughter, Tilly Dodd.
The family is grateful for the loyalty and compassion of his long-time caregiver, Donna Barnhart; and of his other assistants, Pat, Helen, Cindy, Nikki, Anita and Suzanne; and for excellent medical support from Dr. Mary Jane Dylla and the staff at St. Helena Hospital.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 1474 Oak Ave, Saint Helena, CA 94574 or to the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research Consortium (http://cll.ucsd.edu/). The family is being cared for by Morrison Funeral Chapel, (707) 963-3536.

Facts

Born: March 26, 1923
Place of Birth: Oakland, CA
Death: May 4, 2010
Place of Death: St. Helena, CA
Occupation: grape grower
Hobbies: fly fishing, jazz music, travel, and having adventures with his family