Randolph Lewis Mitton

Randolph Lewis Mitton, Lt. Col. USAF (Retired) died on December 19, 2009 at his residence in Arcadia, CA. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Miriam Mitton, devoted daughter, Catherine Nitti and her husband Victor of Fort Washington, MD and his beloved grandson, Matthew Harvey of Arcadia, CA. His beloved son, Randolph Lewis Mitton, Jr. preceded him in death in 2007. Randolph was born in Canada in 1923 and graduated from Freeport HS, Long Island, NY in 1941. He earned a Bachelors degree in International Relations from San Francisco State College. He joined the Army Air Corps, became an aviator and served in WWII in Italy with the 455th Bomb Group and earned the Purple Heart Award. Colonel Mitton later served in Korea and his last duty assignment was at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. Following his retirement from the USAF, he joined the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) and worked at Woodbine and Calder racetracks as Agent-In-Charge. His last position was Director of Security at Santa Anita Racetrack, Arcadia, CA. He was a member of the Elks Freeport Lodge #1253, Arcadia American Legion Post # 247 and a member of the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. He is remembered for his love of his family, his strength of character and his fierce loyalty to his friends and colleagues. Colonel Mitton will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full Military Honors on March 1, 2010 at 1p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, P.O. Box 18470, Encino, CA 91416, a fund for injured and disabled jockeys.