Dr. Russell F. Scalf passed away peacefully in his home, in the early morning of Monday, June 13. Russ was born September 1, 1929, the youngest of 4 siblings, to Herbert Harrison and Dora Elvie Scalf, in the rural hills of Southeastern Kentucky. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Russell attended the University of Louisville Medical School where he met his eventual wife and life partner, Jeannie, a nursing student at Louisville General Hospital at the time. He practiced radiology for 30 years, initially as a partner in a professional alliance at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Hospital and later in private practice at Southern Parkway Medical Center. Russ was a member of the Kentucky Medical Association and was bestowed a Kentucky Colonel salutation. Close friends and neighbors affectionately referred to him as “Doc” and he exemplified the title. Doc spent many years of volunteer hours as the sports team physician at Jesse Stuart Junior and High Schools, giving gratis physicals to players and coaches as well as attending football games as a sideline physician on call. Doc thoroughly enjoyed watching athletics as an avid Big Blue fan of Kentucky basketball and football but his favorite sport was horseracing, where, for a brief time, he dabbled in ownership of his own racehorse.
Doc took great pleasure in reading and, after his retirement from medicine, penned a fictional novel which covered real life experiences from his childhood through WW2 and beyond. His favorite times on this earth were spent traveling with his wife and friends; to Africa, Rome, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, the continental United States, and even to the North Pole, but especially to the wilds of Canada where he spent many vacations, happily in a fishing boat, catching walleye.
Russ is preceded in death by his loving wife and soul mate of 64 years, Wilma Jean Robinson Scalf.
He also leaves behind daughter Robin Scalf Shope (Frank) of Nashville, TN., son, Russell F. Scalf, Jr. (Cindy) of Indianapolis, IN., four wonderful grandsons, Lt. Taylor Shope (Krystal), Connor Shope, Mitchell Shope, and Russell F. Scalf, III, one great grandson, Lucas Shope, and one sister, Gladys Sulfredge of Corbin, Ky.
Visitation will be at Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Ky., 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 17 with funeral service at 11:00 a.m.
Russell will be laid to rest at a private graveside service to be attended by family. The family wishes to thank the compassionate Louisville Hosparus team who helped care for both parents during their illnesses and ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made at https://hosparus.org/donate.