Lieutenant-Commander William H. Mitchell Jr, 79, died peacefully in his VA Hospice room in Dallas, TX on April 25th, 2018. LCDR. Mitchell was born on August 23, 1938 in Dallas, TX to William Henry “Harry” Mitchell and Clovis Ozelle Knight. In August 1956, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country honorably for 21 years. While in the Navy he attended Submarine school studying sonar operations, diesel engines and nuclear power technology. He re-enlisted 3 times and was sent to Officer Candidate School in 1963. He was assigned to several vessels during his tenure with the military and was a veteran of the Vietnam War and the Tet Offensive. In 1977 LCDR. Mitchell retired from the Navy with a Navy Commendation Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a National Defense Services Medal, a Vietnam Campaign Medal, a Vietnam Services Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal as well as a Bronze Star. He was a true Patriot.
He spent several years following his retirement working as the Superintendent of the University of Texas Institute of Geophysics at Galveston. Later he signed on with the Galveston Country Club as the golf course Marshall. He also served as the Mayor Pro-tem of Tiki Island, a small community within Galveston County in which he lived for many years. He was a member of the local Elks Club#126 and a member of the Knights of Columbus #787. He was an amazing chef, cooking for family, friends and many charity events as well as an avid golfer, enjoyed crafting his own clubs as well as making sets for his sons and grandsons.
LDCR Mitchell married in 1959 to Rose Victoria Manak Mitchell of Ennis,TX and they had 3 children. They were married for 14 years. In 1986 he married Poldi Tschirch. Poldi had a young son and Bill became a father figure to, John William Fell. They were married for 18 years.
He is survived in death by his daughter, Cynthia Mitchell Gossett and her husband Mark of Carrollton, TX; his son, William H. Mitchell III of Owings Mills, MD, his son Scott Damien Mitchell and his wife Dina of Euless, TX and his son John William Fell and his wife Lisa of Ft. Worth, TX; his granddaughters Denise Webster of Dallas, TX, Meghan Meracle of Jackson, MS, Sierra Mitchell, Alexandra Mitchell, Gabrielle Mitchell all of Owings Mills, MD., Zoe Fell and Blair Fell of Ft. Worth,TX. Grandsons Luke Webster of Carrollton, TX, and Henry Fell of Ft Worth, TX. He’s also survived by seven great-grandchildren; Sadie, Ella, Tyler, Jake, Ana, Kinsley and Sebastian. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister.
A viewing will take place at Rhoton Funeral Home on Thursday, May 10,2018, from 11:00am-12:00pm followed by a short service from 12:00-1:00pm in the Rhoton Funeral Home Chapel. The military service and burial will follow at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2:00pm. Funeral arrangements are provided by Rhoton Funeral Home. Flowers may be sent to Rhoton Funeral Home at 1511 S Interstate 35E Carrollton, TX 75006 or in lieu of flowers donations should be made in William’s honor to a Veteran’s Charity of your choosing.
