In his 84th year and at peace with the Lord, William Paul Mitchell, aka Bill, passed away in his sleep on March 12, 2016, in Mesa, AZ.
Bill was born to Marguerite (Kelly) Mitchell of Boston and Francis Robert Mitchell of Block Island on April 11, 1931. He was raised in Warwick, Rhode Island. His upbringing taught him values he lived all his life: hard work, initiative, fortitude, sacrifice, spirituality, and self-reliance. Moving west, Bill soon embraced the cowboy ethos: do the right thing, your word is your bond, mind your own business, pull your own weight, be fair, tell the truth.
As a very young man, Bill joined the military. He served two years in the Navy and twenty years in the Air Force. He was stationed in Arizona, Korea, South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Guam. In Arizona, Bill married Rita Donahue, daughter of Thomas Donahue and Mary Ellen (Cahill) Donahue of Dubuque, Iowa. Together they raised six children who were expected to work hard and be good citizens. Bill was a superior mechanic who built and flew his own airplanes, among them a Tri-Pacer and an Aeronca Champ. Eventually he married Sandra Phillips and they built a successful ranch in South Dakota. Bill was an active member of TREA, the VFW, and the St. Christopher's choir on Ellsworth AFB.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra Mitchell, and his children: William (Linda) of Iowa City, Tom of Lingle, WY, John (Shari) of Rapid City, Margie (Mike) Schroeder of Caputa, and Rose (Mark) Speirs of Deadwood. His grandchildren are Shannon (Dan) Valiga, Alison Mitchell, Robert Mitchell, Erich Mitchell; Katrina and Danielle Mitchell, Chad Schroeder, Ben (Marisa) Schroeder, and Adam (Quiyana) Schroeder. Great-grandchildren are Natalie, Kaylie, Zaiden, Charlemagne, Aziza, Elizabeth and Anna. Sandra’s children, loved and honored by Bill, are Colette (John) Adams of Melbourne, FL and Ned Phillips of Caputa. Her grandchildren are Carmen (Jake) Brown and Alisha Adams. Bill’s surviving brothers and sisters are Mary Murphy, George (Georgia Mae) Mitchell, Stephen Mitchell, and Carolyn Thatcher. Bill was preceded in death by his son James (Jim), Rita, the mother of his children; and brothers Bob and Gene Mitchell.
Visitation was March 20, 2016 at Kirk Funeral Home, 1051 E. Minnesota St. A Mass of Christian Burial was on Monday at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial, with full military honors, also on Monday at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Donations in William Mitchell’s name may be made to the American Heart Association (Rapid City branch) or to the Airman’s Family Readiness Program.
Family and friends may sign Bill’s online guest book at www.kirkfuneralhome.com
