Mitchell, Frank1909-1987

MITCHELL, SPARKS, STOUT, MEDRICK, HOUSER, JONASZ, ROSESE, MURPHY, INGRAHAM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 12/24/2016 at 08:43:34

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Feb. 23, 1987

RITES HELD FOR FRANK MITCHELL

Frank Mitchell, 77, of Rock Creek Lake died Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Desert Valley Humana Hospital, Phoenix, Ariz.

Funeral services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Raymond C. Lott of the Grinnell United Methodist Church officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner.

Pallbearers were Warren Beaty, Tom Ellis, James Hotchkin, Donald Louden, Bill Weeks and Dennis Wilson. Honorary bearers were Virgil Matteson, Cleo E. Smith and Charles A. Robinson.

Fraternal rites were conducted by officers and members of the Grinnell B.P.O. Elks Lodge, with burial in Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorials in Mr. Mitchell's name may be left at the funeral home.

The son of Arthur Benjamin and Edna Sparks Mitchell, he was born on Feb. 20, 1909, at Lynnville. He attended Lynnville schools. He worked as a mechanic in his father's Buick garage in Lynnville, later moving to Grinnell to establish his own business.

On Sept. 28, 1932, he was married to Olga J. Stout at Lancaster, Mo. He purchased the Pontiac-Buick dealership here, continuing to operate the business until selling it in 1964.

Following the death of his first wife, he was married to LeVern J. Medrick Houser on June 5, 1969, at Alexandria, Minn. The couple lived at Rock Creek Lake, spending winters in Phoenix.

Mr. Mitchell was a member of the Grinnell Elks Lodge, a board member of the Grinnell State Bank, president of the Grinnell Auto Dealers Association, a member of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, and president of the American Automobile Association.

Survivors include his wife, LeVern; three daughters, Gelene B. Jonasz of Arlington, Va., Jodi A. Rosese of Pomeroy and Janet L. Murphy of Scottsdale, Ariz.; one son, James L. of Lincoln, Neb.; one stepson, William L. Houser of Phoenix; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Jay W. and Ben A. Mitchell of Grinnell.

He was preceded in death by his first wife; two brothers, Albert in infancy and Earl Mitchell; and one sister, Charlotte Ingraham.