David Mitchell

Mr. David Garfield Mitchell, age 80, passed away in Hoover, Alabama, on Wednesday, September 8. He had been a resident of the Birmingham area since 1951. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Marjorie Mitchell Lott, his sister, Marilyn Mitchell Pippen, and his brother, John William Mitchell. He is survived by his wife, Jane Slyhoff Mitchell, his children, John Edward Mitchell (BJ), Susan Mitchell Evans (Jonathan), James Murray Mitchell (Amy), David William Mitchell (Hideko), Joseph Paul Mitchell (Vivian), and Carol Mitchell. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Born in the Hinsdale, Illinois Sanitarium on November 20, 1929, he was graduated from Hinsdale Township High School in 1947. He attended Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, his freshman year in college and was graduated with a B.A. degree from Cornell College, Iowa in June, l951. He went to work for Southern Natural Gas Company on July 2, 1951 and spent his entire working career with Southern Natural, retiring on November 1, 1985 as Assistant Vice President - Tax. To augment his income in his early working years, he started a profitable postage stamp vending machine route, eventually expanding to over 100 locations. He was active as a youth in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He developed a keen interest in music at an early age and played trumpet in high school and in college band and orchestra. He played first trumpet in a trumpet trio during high school years, winning first place in the Illinois state contest and performing for numerous local events. He was called on to play taps at numerous veterans' funerals toward the end of World War II and shortly after. He enjoyed square dancing for a number of years and became the caller for Hoedown Square Dance Club, calling square dances and teaching round dancing. After retirement, he took up snow skiing and was an active member of the Birmingham Ski Club for a number of years. He joined Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church in 1963 and was an active member, holding various responsibilities through the years. He was volunteer choir director for over ten years. He was a loving husband and father, taking his family on vacation camping trips all over the United States, eventually visiting 47 of the 48 contiguous states. In more recent years, he travelled extensively, recently celebrating his 80th birthday with 31 beloved family members on a Caribbean cruise. Visitation will be at 2:00 Sunday, Sept. 12th at Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church followed by a memorial service at 3:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mountain Chapel United Methodist Memorial Fund, 2541 Rocky Ridge Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243.