HAINES CITY - Russell Randolph Willis, avid outdoorsman and entrepreneur, dies at 79. 

 Russell Randolph Willis, a lover of all things outdoors, died Saturday (the Central Florida opening day for general gun hunting and fall turkey hunting seasons) in Auburndale, Florida.  He was 79.  The cause was complications of Parkinson’s disease.

 Randolph was born on September 3, 1928.  He attended and graduated from Haines City High School, where he was an integral part of the Haines City High School football team from 1944-1947.  The football team won the Ridge Championship all three years and went undefeated each of the three years as well.   After graduating high school, Randolph was a member of the Haines City Volunteer Fire Department where he served as the Fire Chief.  He was also a member of the Haines City Police Force, and he served his country as a member of the National Guard.  In 1955, Randolph founded Haines City Fire Extinguisher Service, Inc. and in 1967 he founded what eventually become known as Willis Harvesting Company.

 Randolph was passionate about hunting and fishing and riding his air boat.  He participated and won several bass fishing tournaments throughout the years.

 He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Caroline; three sons, Mike, Jeff and Matt; daughters-in-law Donna and Carol; his grandchildren Shelli, Michael, Jack and Jennifer; grandchildren-in-law Ronald and Jennifer; and his five great-grandchildren, Destiny, Randy, Joey, Alexandra and Colton.  He was predeceased by his grandson Jeffrey.

 The funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 13 at 1:00 in the afternoon at Landmark Baptist Church, where Randolph was a member.  Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be provided to the Polk Training Center for Handicapped Citizens, Inc. in Lake Alfred, Florida or Classic Gospel WLVF 90.3 radio station, a ministry of Landmark Baptist Church in Haines City, Florida.