William Henry Mitchell, Jr.

William Henry Mitchell, Jr. was born on October 22, 1925 in Beaumont, Texas, at his family’s home on Franklin and Houston Streets. He lived in Beaumont from 1925 until 1969, when he moved his family to Mesquite, Texas, where he resided until his passing on November 24, 2017.

Bill graduated from Beaumont High School in the spring of 1943 and quickly enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was trained as a tail gunner and photographer and arrived in Grottole, Italy on Friday October 13th. He flew his first combat mission before his 19th birthday. Two years and 49 missions later, he was honorably discharged in Colorado on October 19, 1945 and returned to Beaumont. He was soon employed by Sun Oil Company where he worked for more than 41 years.

Bill married Frances Waudeane “Deane” Yancey on January 18, 1947 and they were together for almost 60 years. Deane preceded him in death on December 12, 2005.

Bill Mitchell was a kind, gentle soul. His sweet, giving, caring disposition made it easy to love him. He wanted more than anything to be a good man, husband, father, and grandfather. He succeeded. He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

Survivors include; sons, William Dean Mitchell of Terrell, Mark Wallace Mitchell and his wife Gloria of Lewisville, Christean Lenard “Chris” Mitchell and his wife Gillian Fay of Carrollton; daughter, Frances Sulea “Sue” Schreiber and her husband David Alan of Mesquite; grandchildren, Amy Cecile Welch and her husband Mark of Ingleside, Emilie Christean Campbell and her husband Eric of Ashland, KS, Sarah Michelle Mitchell of Converse, Katherine Sulea “Katie” Schreiber of Mesquite, Tyler Christean Mitchell  and Breanna Nicole Mitchell of Carrollton; great grandchildren, Rachel Cecile Welch, Mahala Eve Campbell, Mykelti Asher Campbell; cousins Laura Walton, Phyllis Stallings and Henrietta Gentry; sister-in-law, Sulea “Sue” Steward and her husband Harold of Beaumont; nephews, Kevin Patrick Yancey and his wife Janice Faye of Larkspur, CO, Samuel Warren “Sam” Johnson and his wife Jodi of Crystal Beach, Timothy Alan Johnson and his wife Heather of McKinney; nieces, Mattie Grace Riggs and her husband Ruel of Beaumont, and Cindy Sulea Beall and her husband Buddy of Beaumont; great nieces and nephews, Belinda Battenfield and her husband Jeremy of San Antonio, Jennifer Cox and her husband Adam of Atlanta, Katelyn Johnson of Dearborn, MI, Shelby Johnson of Crystal Beach, Austin Adam Beall and Eric Yancey Beall of Beaumont, Amber Lynn Johnson, Landon Yancey Johnson, Auburn Nichole Johnson, Leah Jefferson, Kevin Riggs and his wife Jeri Lynn of Jasper, IN; and great great niece and nephews, Kiera Battenfield, Cody Battenfield, Luke Cox, Pearson Riggs and Mitchell Riggs.

A gathering of Mr. Mitchell’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. with his funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 4, 2017, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

The family has requested that memorial gifts be sent to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, Virginia 22215.