Peter M. Mitchell

Pete Mitchell, 89, passed away on December 19, 2018. Pete was born on May 2, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan. Pete was the only child of George and Rodope Mitchell, who came to the United States from Greece, bringing a heritage that remains a focus for Pete’s family. Pete grew up in downtown Detroit, helping in his father’s shoe repair shop and pursuing his passion: Detroit sports teams. He was a lifelong fan of the Tigers and Lions and spent some of his youth at the Redwings’ arena, sharpening ice skates.

Pete graduated for Northwestern High School and Wayne State University in Detroit. He earned his PhD in psychology at Purdue University and served with the U.S. Army before beginning his professional career as a clinical psychologist.

On Christmas Eve 1947, Pete first met Ann, the love of his life, at St. Mathias Episcopal Church in Detroit. Pete was an 18-year-old acolyte and Ann a 15-year-old member of the St. Cecilia Choir. Thus began a relationship that carried them together through seven decades of marriage, parenthood, dual careers, world travel and grandparenting. They had four children Katherine (Ed Cowgill), Georgia, Matthew (Lori) and Douglas (Kim), 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Early in his career, Pete served as director of the Beth Mosier Child Guidance/Mental Health Clinic in Jackson, Michigan. In 1969, he was named director of the counseling center at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. During his time at Ball State, Pete also directed the doctoral program in counseling psychology. He taught graduate classes at Ball State and also abroad with the university’s overseas program. His position allowed the family to experience living in Germany, Greece, Italy, Great Britain and Spain and to travel widely throughout Europe.

Although they grew up in a busy city, Pete and Ann developed a love for the natural world and became experienced campers. They camped with the family throughout much of the United States and many Canadian provinces.

Pete was a man of diverse interests and skills and possessed a great sense of humor. He was a devoted do-it-yourselfer, from hand carving figurines to building the family fireplace and refurbishing furniture and clocks. He loved classical, big band and contemporary music, along with Spike Jones and Heywood Banks. He loved a good joke and a bad pun. He had an errant sense of direction that earned him the title of “Sir Peter the Navigator. He led the family on a number of adventures, from following the wrong trail up the side of a mountain in the Canadian Rockies to becoming stuck on a glacier on a closed road in Switzerland.

Pete and Ann traveled extensively in addition to camping, visiting all continents except Antarctica (he would have made it there if he’d had a chance), with Thailand, Belize and South Africa their favorite destinations. The family carries on Pete’s love for travel and the outdoors.

Visitation for Dr. Mitchell will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018 from 3 – 4 p.m. with a Memorial Service to follow at 4 p.m. in Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home, 4150 E. Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47401. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends consider a donation to the Bloomington Animal Shelter, the source of Pete’s favorite dog, Sundae.