April 1, 1933 – Jan. 26, 2023
William ‘Bill’ Hundley Mitchell Jr., 89, of Lorane, Ore. passed away Jan. 26, 2023. Bill was born April 1, 1933, in Lorane to parents William Hundley Sr. and Hattie Josephine (Skelton) Mitchell. He was the fourth of five children, and he was the first boy.
After graduating Lorane High School in 1951, Bill joined the army and was sent to Korea from 1952-‘54. He worked in the signal corps during his time in the Army and he received the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal. When Bill returned to the states, he was stationed at Camp Hanford, Wash., where he met his wife, Charlotte Jo Fisher. They were married April 30, 1955. After completing his service in 1956 he and Charlotte moved to Lorane Valley.
Bill worked as a clerk at his father’s store in Lorane and then he worked in the plywood mills. When Weyerhaeuser shut down, Bill was laid off, he became self-employed, cutting and selling wood throughout the valley.
Every year Bill and Charlotte would grow a large garden and they loved to share the surplus with others. Bill always grew flowers in their garden so it would look especially nice.
Being self-employed allowed Bill and Charlotte to take many trips with the senior group called Pogo Tours. They visited Reno twice a year and they took trips to Alaska, and British Columbia. They would often take road trips to visit family in Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Bill is survived by his son Andrew V. Mitchell of Lorane; daughter Anita L. (Mitchell) and Mike Olsen of Portland, Ore.; son Daniel L. (Tawnya) Mitchell of Winston, Ore.; son David W. Mitchell of Lorane; brother Boyd K. Mitchell of Grand Junction, Colo.; and three grandsons Will, James, and Nathan.
Donations can be made to: Lorane Rebekah Lodge, IOOF #252, Lorane Fire District or Lane County Meals on Wheels.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. followed by celebration of life luncheon at Lorane Rebekah Lodge, IOOF #252. 80284 Old Lorane Rd., Lorane, OR 97451. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium.
