Russell Franklin Hitts

HITTS Russell Russell Franklin Hitts, born April 2, 1947, in Toledo OH, passed away peacefully July 10, 2024, at the age of 77. He was a graduate of Whitmer High School, and then attended the University of Toledo where he earned his degree in Civil Engineering. He began his career working for Detroit & Toledo Shoreline Railroad. A couple years later he earned his Professional Engineer license and started working at the Toledo Water Treatment Plant. Over his 31 years with the City of Toledo Water Department, he held many roles including acting superintendent, maintenance administrator, senior project engineer, and acting manager of water distribution for the city, prior to retiring in 2003. Russ was a man strongly rooted in his Catholic faith and he was extremely dedicated to his family. He spent his adult life striving to create memories and experiences for them all to remember and traditions ran deep with him. His strong set of morals and ethics were very important to him and he worked hard to instill them in his kids. The family spent summers camping at Marble Lake and Put In Bay. Weekends were family cookouts at his mothers house for swimming, card games, and horseshoes. He was a hell of a horseshoe player, and often "ruled the pits". Since he was a young boy he enjoyed being in nature. "Butch" as he was known to many, was an avid fisherman and hunter his whole life. He hunted year round with friends, especially his best friend Milt, his many cousins on the Reny family side, and even his Mom on many occasions! He loved music, concerts, and dancing. He was a regular at Party In The Park and Rally By The River in the 80's and 90's, usually with his five kids in tow. He loved attending concerts and he shared his love of music with his kids. He loved going to dances and it was at one of them that he met his wife Anne. He loved cars- racing and working on them. His knowledge was extensive. He preferred Ford Mustangs, and owned numerous of them throughout his life. His pride and joy car was his Dodge Stealth, which he spent years racing on local circuits. One of his favorite adventures was the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Daytona Speedway where he got to drive a real NASCAR on the track. He was a very big Detroit Lions fan, despite grumbling about how bad they were every year. He got to see their 2023 run for the Super Bowl and, though they didn't make it, he was very excited for the future. He was never one to sit still. He did gymnastics to stay in shape and loved wow'ing people with his ability to do a back handspring in his late fifties. Also one of his biggest thrills was skydiving in his sixties! He loved volleyball and played well into his seventies, at the Rossford Senior Center, where he met so many dear friends!! He had a fascination with the tall ships of the Great Lakes. He spent two weeks on the U.S. Niagara, doing sail training, as it sailed to Canada and back. It was one of his most memorable life experiences! One of the most dear places to him was the family property and "cottage" in Grand Rapids Ohio. Childhood through adulthood, he and his family were there fishing, canoeing, playing at the damn, hunting on the Maumee River, and enjoying the annual Apple Butter Festival. After retirement he designed and built a new home where the cottage once stood. There he lived his dream of sitting on his deck, watching the wildlife around the quarry and the river. He was a man who made THE most out of life and achieved whatever he set his mind on. He will be deeply missed by so many, but especially by his children. Resting was never your strong suit Dad! So go live it up in Heaven! We promise to carry on the traditions and your love of making memories! Left to cherish his memory are his wife Anne Marie, children-Heather (Robert) Grimmett, Jeffrey (Dawn) Hitts, Jennifer (David) Bukowski, Steven (Heather) Hitts, and Melanie (Tom Bonomi) Hitts, his grandchildren Ashley, Alyssa, Adrienne, Chelsea, Chloe, Alec, Danielle, Camden, Emma, Lily, and William, step grandchildren Vincent, Raven, and Alice, seven great grandchildren, and sisters Patricia Zook and Pamela (Jerry) DeCastro. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Anita, his father Virgil and stepmother Jodie Hitts, and his mother Val Hitts. Visitation will be Tuesday July 16, from 2:00pm- 8:00pm at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 Reynolds Rd, Toledo. Funeral services will begin Wednesday July 17 at 9:30am at Coyle, followed by a funeral mass at 10:30am at St. Charles Borromeo, 1842 Airport Hwy, Toledo. Internment following at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Parkinsons Foundation of Northwest Ohio @

Russell Franklin Hitts

April 2, 1947 - July 10, 2024