He was born in Columbus on February 4, 1949. Mitchell graduated from Columbus High School in 1967 and received a bachelor’s degree from Columbus College in 1971.
He was married to Cathy Peters Thorpe on October 17, 1981.
After a brief time working as a history teacher, Mitchell had a career in the automotive industry for over thirty-five years beginning at Bill Heard Chevrolet. In 1980, he owned and operated his own business, Thorpe Wholesale Cars, with his father, Dewey Thorpe.
He was a longtime member of Edgewood Baptist Church. Mitchell had a heart for children. He volunteered with the Junior Achievement Chapter of Columbus, he was a pee wee football coach, and he served as a coach for some of his daughter’s soccer and cub league basketball teams. He loved bluegrass, country, and gospel music, playing his guitar, gardening, spending time with beloved family and friends, and fishing.
He was survived by his loving wife of almost forty years, children Jonathan Thorpe and Jessica Kidd (Landon Kidd), grandchildren Addie Kidd and Livie Grace Kidd, sister June Snell, nieces and nephews Jeff Gordon (Pam Gordon), Pete Stuart (Karen Stuart), Tracey Mize (Mat Mize), Langdon Snell, and Libby White (Chris White), and a host of loving cousins.
Mitchell was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Addie Mae Thorpe, sister, Ann Stuart, brother-in-law, Jerry Snell.
A visitation will be held at Edgewood Baptist Church from 12:00-2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. A Celebration of Life service will be at 2:00 PM with internment at Park Hill Cemetery immediately following.
Mitchell had a larger-than-life charisma that naturally drew people to him. He was loving, selfless, and he had a fantastic sense of humor. His family was everything to him.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Sound Choices Pregnancy Center, an organization that meant a great deal to Mitchell.
