(Thea) Evelyn Mitchell

Known affectionately to many as Evi, Mom, Grams, Sister Mitchell or Ms. Mitchell, she was born Thea Evelyn Wächter on August 20, 1922 in Vienna, Austria. Evelyn Mitchell passed from this life on March 29, 2021 in Wichita, Kansas.

Evelyn’s childhood was characterized by her prowess as a young pianist. Her debut in Vienna at age 6, performing the Haydn Concerto in D, drew praise from countless experienced musicians and critics. She collected their autographs in a little red book, including one inscription from the future conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, who called her “the little genius.” Her talent took her to performances across the continent, first under the careful tutelage of her mother Helen, then with the pupils and contemporaries of composers such as Lizst, Chopin, Strauss and Brahms. The youthful virtuoso earned an assortment of awards, including one special prize as the youngest pianist at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. When she wasn’t practicing, Evelyn learned English and other subjects from a private governess.

In her teens, she continued her musical pursuits in the United States. While World War II gathered momentum back in Europe, the young girl found herself alone in New York, with only a strict uncle and her beloved music to support her. After one concert in front of thousands of people at Chicago’s Grant Park, she was asked to teach piano to a blind teenager—the initial seed of an accomplished teaching career. To sharpen her music theory skills, she took a class at The Julliard School, under the instruction of Charles Porter Mitchell III. As she later said, she never did get much learning done in that course.

She and Charles married on Dec. 31, 1941. It was a simple ceremony, to say the least, at the army base where Charles was stationed in Macon, GA. Trying to follow the old tradition of having “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” they couldn’t think of anything to borrow, so young Evelyn borrowed the dog tags of their best man. Their honeymoon was nothing to write home about either. After several unsuccessful attempts to obtain leave from the base for the weekend, young Charles was forced to spend his wedding night at the base, and his new bride slept alone at the hotel in town. Not very long after, the Army-Air Force band director left his young bride to be deployed.

Evelyn and Charles eventually settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where they had a son, Charles Porter IV, and a daughter, Mary Virginia (Ginny). Evelyn gave up her promising career to raise her young family. When her husband died in 1961, the 38-year-old widow summoned her strength to support her 10- and 3-year-old children by teaching piano to beginning students. Over time, she was able to resume performing, soloing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, playing dozens of recitals and recording performances for radio and vinyl. She also expanded her teaching career, joining the faculty first at Washington University and then the University of Missouri St. Louis. As a single professional woman in the mid-twentieth century, she modeled persistence and poise, endearing herself to countless students before retiring in 1992 at age 70.

For a few years in her mid-50s, Evelyn found herself often physically ill and exhausted, struggling to maintain her busy teaching schedule. She traveled as far as New York for medical tests, all of which turned up nothing. Then, when her two children began to talk to her about their recent faith transformation, she also turned her heart toward Jesus Christ, who soon became everything to her. Within months of her conversion, absolutely all the symptoms and exhaustion washed out of her life. To the day of her passing over forty years later, she enjoyed strong physical health, even beating COVID in 2020.

In her “second childhood,” as she liked to call her later years, Evelyn became Grandma to Kelly Mitchell and Sarah, Emily, James, Jesse, Christine, Daniel and Faith Pinho. Besides her many driving trips to visit her kids and grandkids, her annual, playfully sung “Happy Birthday” song will always be remembered and missed.

In 1998, she moved closer to her son’s family in Wichita, where she found a spiritual home at Bethany Revival Center. She was part of the first graduating class of the church’s Great Plains Bible College in June 2004, at the age of 81. From age 84 into her early 90s, when she could no longer drive, Evelyn devoted many hours, frequently on a daily basis, visiting with inmates one-on-one at the county jail in Wichita. She shared her faith with them and encouraged them that they, too, could have hope in Christ and experience an overcoming life. Many inmates expressed to other volunteers and the chaplaincy staff how much love she had shown them and how much she had taught and helped them. Some even called her Grandma.

Evelyn went home to be with her heavenly Father on March 29, 2021, at 98 years young, after spending nearly three and a half years in two different assisted living facilities. Evelyn’s children are extremely grateful to God and to the healthcare professionals who provided such wonderful, loving care for her, and they are particularly thankful that during the prolonged shutdown the past 12 months, they never once wondered about the quality of care she was receiving.

Remembrance of “Grams” by Emily Pinho, Granddaughter

If you googled Thea Evelyn Wachter Mitchell, you would find that she was an incredibly accomplished pianist, a child prodigy, and a respected and beloved professor.

But to me, she was Grams. The woman with the ladybug necklace and the battery charger we used to play with and the yellow car she called her “bug.” The grandma who would let us stand on her feet and yell “wee” as she rocked us up and down to play “seesaw.” The woman who drove all the way from Saint Louis to Omaha with a giant bag of pepperoni in her car because that’s what I told her I wanted for my birthday.

She was conversations about life — about everything — until the wee hours of the morning. She was the McDonalds drivethru in the middle of the afternoon to share a 10-cent senior Diet Coke. She was Kleenex hidden in the sleeve of her dress. She was pasghetti and pot roast and private piano recitals and just one more game of scrabble before we call it a night.

I think of her every time I hear Pavarotti, every time I cut up chicken fingers to put in my salad, every time I see anyone doing a crossword puzzle, and every time anyone says anything is “halfway decent.”

There are a lot of “gramsisms” that we all have quoted over the years. “The night is young and we are so beautiful. What shall we do?” And “I beg your petunias.” And “Excuse me are you in my way?” She called God “my papa upstairs,” us grandkids “Cookie Wookie” and herself “this old do-do bird.” But one of my favorite things she used to say - and something I’ve quoted many times - was “there are two types of people in this world. The doers and the watchers. Be a doer.”

And I can say that she truly lived this. In 98 years, she experienced her fair share of hardship, of loneliness, and disappointment. She used to say that as a young child she was “useless” because she had never learned to do household chores or take care of herself. Of course, we know this is because she spent all day practicing the piano. But when she came to this country alone as a teenager not knowing anybody or anything, she learned quickly — how to fend for herself, how to earn money teaching piano to bring her mother and sister over from Austria.

She used to talk about how she picked up her own flowers on her wedding day and got married on the military chaplain’s lunch break during World War Two, right before my grandfather went off to the war. She was just a couple years older than I am now when she was widowed - a woman alone with two young children in an era in this country when a woman couldn’t open her own credit card or buy her own house. She learned how to drive a car in her late 30’s. I found letters she wrote to the university asking for better pay, so she could send her children to college.

She was always doing, even after retirement. She learned how to use a computer and how to touch type in her 70’s. She graduated from Bible school in her 80s. The other day I found an email from her that she wrote in her 90s, about how she had to get back to studying Spanish.

She was unstoppable. Generous, almost to a fault. Full of life and vibrance and love of learning until almost the very end.

And I think she’d be “tickled pink” that we are all here to celebrate her and remember her life. Grams, I hope you’re up there “goofing off” as you would say. I hope you know how much of an important role you played in my life. I’m going to miss you so much. But we will all carry your memories and your zest for life with us forever.

“How Tiny I Am”

My life is but a vapor,

Filled to the brim,

With things I can’t control,

With messes I am in,

And yet,

In just the twinkling of an eye,

I’ll be with Him

Up in the sky,

And when my trials on earth are done,

My life of life is just begun.

~ by Evelyn Mitchell

June 28, 1996

Grandma Evelyn Mitchell

In 2010 I wrote a short tribute to a dear lady that we love very much. We call her Grandma and although she is not blood kin to us, we could not love her any more if she was. Tomorrow, her family and church family will celebrate her homegoing and I do not know if I have ever wished to be in a place more than I wish to be there.

There is a video tribute that is posted on the funeral home website. It is beautiful and I wept all the way through it.

The family included pictures from when she was a child prodigy in Austria playing the piano and all the way through her life. They were gracious to include pictures of our family with Grandma Mitchell under the tent at City Reach Wichita in 2015. I loved every picture.

Sis. Mitchell lived a long full life, but she would be quick to tell you that nothing was important at all until she met Christ in her 50s and began to serve Him. She was truly converted and wanted the whole world to know it. She wanted everyone to know Christ as she did.

We met her shortly after she moved to Wichita in retirement and during our first year in Wichita. She was in her late-70s then. A few years later we began preaching revivals at Bethany Revival Center and soon Sis. Mitchell became Grandma to all three of us.

She always had an interesting story or insight to share and we delighted in her conversation. She was concerned that she might be taking too much of our time before or after church, but we were never worried about that. We always had time for Grandma Mitchell.

Please pray for our friends in Wichita. Bro. Charles, Sis. Karen and their daughter, Kelly Ann, are super precious people. We love them like we loved Grandmother Mitchell and we are longing to be with them this week.

We will all join together soon and that day shall be glorious.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Davy Boggs

I always thought of myself as a lifelong student of Mrs Mitchell’s and her lasting impact on my life deserves and demands time to reflect, appreciate, and pay homage to her legacy in my life. Thank you so much for giving me that opportunity. It gave me a bittersweet closure. Mark Thomas

I am so sorry to hear your mom has passed. Some of my earliest memories are of her kindness & sweetness towards me. She will always hold a special place in my heart. My condolences to you, Charlie, and your whole family. Elizabeth Caulfield

Hey auntie Ginny. I heard about your mom passing away. I’m so sorry for your loss. 💔 I only remember meeting her a few times but she was the kindest woman. I’m glad you and your brother could be there for her. Justin Parenteau

Bro. Charles, You & Your Family gave Mo. Evelyn Mitchell a Wonderful Tribute. One of The Best I've seen, and I have went to many Home going Services. I salute you, your Precious Sister & Family. Mother Evelyn would had been proud of all of You. I felted like giving GOD a High Praise, I didn't want to disrupt the service 😎 What a Precious Woman & Saint. She's resting in Peace ! ! ! Her Reward has went before her. 🎶🎵🎶. GOD Bless You ! Pastor Don Crowley

Sister Ginny! My deepest sympathy upon hearing about your Mom's passing. Praying for you all during this time. She is resting in the arms of her Savior! Beth Oram

Ginny - We are so sorry about your mother but so thrilled she's in heaven in Jesus' loving arms. I remember how welcoming she was when we were in St. Louis before your wedding. She was so lovely and had such a full life. Love, Lou & Maria Parenteau

She strutted like Napoleon to give me a sense of how to play Chopin’s E Major Prelude. Then she made me do it, of course! She taught me more about piano playing than any other teacher. Robert Snarrenberg

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Evelyn Mitchell passed away from this life into her eternal home on Mon. Mar 29, 2021. A retired Professor of Piano from the Univ. of Mo. St. Louis, she has resided in Wichita since 1998. Survivors: Son, Charles Mitchell (Karen), Wichita; a daughter, Ginny Pinho (Albert), Everett, MA; and 8 grandchildren. She is greatly loved and will be sorely missed. Viewing: 5-7 p.m., April 8, 2021. Funeral: 10 a.m. Apr. 9, 2021 both at Hillside Funeral Home West, 2929 W 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67203.