Benjamin Richard Mitchell

Ben was born in Monroe County, Indiana on January 26, 1931.

He was the only son of Harley and Essie Mitchell.

Ben married Christine Silvers, his high school sweetheart, on June 24, 1949.

Ben was a well-known and respected businessman in Monroe County.

He owned and operated the Sunset Hill Feed and Grain Elevator in Bloomington until 1970.

Ben holds the Graduate Realtors Institute designation and has been one of Monroe County’s leading Residential and Commercial Realtors since 1976.

Ben and Christine owned and managed a number of rental apartments and homes during their 65 years together as husband and wife. They especially enjoyed working as a team to restore older homes in Bloomington. One of the most notable and rewarding of their restoration projects was the Showers Home located at 430 North Washington Street. Ben and Christine lived in the Showers Home for 28 years. They subsequently sold the Showers Home to the Fierst Family who now operate it as a Bed & Breakfast.

Ben was recognized by all who knew him as a man of high integrity and quiet leadership.

He was a member of the Monroe Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Murat Shrine, Stone Belt Shrine Club and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Lodge #446 where he was a past exalted ruler. He was former president of the Exchange Club, the Optimist Club and The Monroe County Apartment Association. He was a member of the Bloomington Board of Realtors, State Commercial Board of Realtors, Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, Bloomington Hospital Heritage Society and the Indiana University Loyalty Club.

Ben also served for several years as the president of the Bloomington Housing Appeals Board.

Ben has been a member of the Free Methodist Church since 1982 and served on its Administrative Board and Financial Committee.

Ben was a member of The Gideons International.

Ben is survived by his wife Christine, his son Mark and wife Linda of Bloomington and his daughter Linda Wells and husband Randy of Atlanta as well as his grandchildren, Christina McDonald and husband Matthew of Atlanta and Krista and Kayla Mitchell of Bloomington.

Ben was preceded in death by his son, Richard Benjamin Mitchell, who died on April 9, 1982.

Services will be held at the Free Methodist Church in Bloomington on Sunday at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Mel Nead and Reverend James Goodson officiating.

Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery on Monday at 11:00 A.M. Friends may visit the family on Saturday from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home; 4150 E. Third St. and on Sunday from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. at the Free Methodist Church.

The Mitchell Family would like to extend a special gratitude to Dr. William J. Schmalz and his staff. The Family would also like to extend gratitude to the staff of Monroe Hospital, Bell Trace Senior Living and Home Instead Senior Care for the exceptional and professional care they provided to Ben.

The family requests that Memorial contributions be made to the Free Methodist Church or to The Gideons International.