Russell Joseph Dellabalma

Russell Joseph Dellabalma passed away unexpectedly on December 16, 2021.

Russell was born on May 22, 1957, to Robert and Carol Dellabalma, at the old Trinity Hospital in Arcata. He began working at the family business (T.P. Tire Service) at the age of 12 so he could earn enough money to buy a dirt bike. Over the years, Russell worked his way up, and upon the death of his father and the eventual retirement of his mother, Russell and his wife Rhonda carried on the operations of the passenger department, making a third generation T.P. Tire Service legacy. Russell was a hard-working man who loved his job and his many loyal customers. He always had a story for many of his regulars, making each one feel like they were his favorite.

Russell was always happy and smiling and had an energy that you wanted to be around. He would do anything for his friends and family and would drop whatever he was doing to help someone else in need.

If Russell wasn’t working at the shop or starting a new project at home, you could find him hunting, quadding, boating, traveling, adventuring in the wilderness, exploring new places, rock hunting or spending time at his vacation home in Trinity Center with his wife and family. Trinity Lake was Russell’s happy place and home away from home – a place that he frequented from the time he was a teenager.

Russell was predeceased by his father Robert Dellabalma, grandparents Joseph Dellabalma and Virginia Dellabalma, and Thelma Poff and Cecil “Zeke” Poff.

Russell is survived by his wife, Rhonda Dellabalma, children Jeremy Dellabalma (Teva), Chad Dellabalma, Nicole Uhl (Ian), Christine Peets (Garret), grandchildren Sydney Dellabalma, Collin Dellabalma, Harper Uhl, Rowen Peets, and Ryder Peets, mother Carol Dellabalma, sisters Angela Bernardi (Don) and Beth Dellabalma, nephew Nathan Bernardi, and several other nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Also survived by mother-in-law, Norita Alcorn, sisters-in-law Vicky Couch (Tom), Tami Gruetzmacher, and brother-in-law Michael Alcorn (Peggy).

A celebration of life will be held on Russell’s birthday, May 22, 2022. The location will be announced at a later date.

The family would like to thank Arcata first responders John Evenson and his partners, and the Emergency Room Medical Team at Mad River Community Hospital. We would also like to thank everyone who has reached out and showed their love and support, and everybody’s kind words.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Russell Joseph Dellabalma, please visit our floral store.