Obituary: Arthur James Mitchell
Sept 30, 1949-April 27, 2023
In the care of J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors of Grapevine, Texas.
Arthur James Mitchell was born September 30, 1949, in Richland,
Washington to the late Deacon John David Mitchell (2013) and the late Rodessa
Annette Allen Mitchell (1988). He was the sixth of thirteen children.
Arthur attended the
Naval Base School in the Tri-City area. In 1956, the family moved to Portland,
Oregon, and attended Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church under the leadership
of the late Reverend O. B. Williams. This is where Arthur received the Lord
Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and was baptized.
Arthur attended Boise-Eliot
Elementary School and graduated from Portland’s Jefferson High School in 1967.
After graduating
from high school, Arthur worked on a ship for the US Army Corps of Engineers
dredging along the West Coast. During that time, Arthur's Jefferson High School
of Portland, Oregon, football coach, John Wilcox, accepted an assistant
football coaching position at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Coach
Wilcox encouraged Arthur apply to attend Whitman.
Arthur attended Whitman on a football scholarship. In 1971, he was the Northwest Conference All Star flanker and Whitman College outstanding football player. He wore uniform number 22.
He graduated from
Whitman with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1972.
After graduation,
Arthur accepted a management position with State Farm Insurance in Salem,
Oregon. He found he longed for more social interaction and opened a record
store, M&M connection with Charles Minor.
Arthur met his wife
Natalie Kathleen Harris, while she was in Salem, working for the State of
Oregon. They married in 1978.
Arthur began
working for Montgomery Ward in retail management. In 1981, Natalie's position
with IBM gave them the opportunity to move to Dallas, Texas, and Arthur was
able to transfer with Montgomery Ward.
They initially
lived in Murphy, Texas and had two daughters: Amanda Mackenzie Mitchell and
Samantha Erin Mitchell. To have more family time, Arthur switched careers and
began working for Motorola.
Arthur eventually
used his Motorola training to open his own business, In and Out Cellular.
He ran
communication systems for many clients including Baylor Hospitals, Grapevine
Mills Mall and The Galleria Dallas. The family moved to Southlake, Texas, in
1988.
Arthur enjoyed many
volunteer opportunities. He was room dad at Callier and Highland Meadow
Montessori schools. Arthur was president of the Dallas Figure Skating Club
(1997-2002) and president of the United Methodist Men's organization at St.
Luke Community United Methodist Church. He received The Spirit of St. Luke
award in October 1990.
He sang in the
men's choir. Arthur taught 3 years (2015-2017) of Disciple Bible study at St
Luke Community UMC. He was on the Southlake water board and a member of
Southlake Citizens on Patrol.
Arthur enjoyed
helping friends and family with technology issues and home repair. He was an
avid photographer and chronicled his and the family's journeys with many
pictures. Arthur maintained close friendships with the members of the Whitman
College football team and travelled to the annual retreat with the guys.
Arthur leaves to
celebrate his home going, his wife Natalie, three children: Dwayne Bernard
Okpaise (Kristin), Amanda Mitchell (Brett Leghorn) and Samantha Mitchell;
Grandchildren: Dwayne Okpaise Jr. (Brice Roberts), Derick Okpaise, Hayden James
Leghorn and Taylor Leghorn. Three sisters, Jewell Faye Norman, Pamela W.
Mitchell and Barbara A. Mitchell. Brothers, John D. Mitchell II (Jane), Gregory
Mitchell and stepbrother Jefferson Gachet. Stepmother Rosa Gachet and Uncle
James Melvin Mitchell, many devoted friends and a host of nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Arthur was preceded
in death by Baby Boy Mitchell (1942), Earl Ray Mitchell (1965), Curtis LaVon
Mitchell (1991), Marvin Glenn Mitchell (2005), Jimmie Audwin Mitchell (2020),
Cal Eugene Mitchell (2021) and Raymond Louis Mitchell (2022).
The California
Graveside Service: May 12, 2023, noon-1 pm
Oakwood Memorial
Park
22601 Lassen Street
Chatsworth CA 91311
The Texas
Memorial Service: May 25, 2023, noon-1pm:
St Luke
Community United Methodist Church
5710
East R. L. Thornton Fwy
Dallas
TX 75223
In lieu
of flowers, please consider donating in Arthur's remembrance to the American
Cancer Society.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grapevine-tx/arthur-mitchell-11272877
Wilcox Gets Whitman Job
=Sept 10 1971 Portland Oregon Journal
‘C of I Flip-Flops QB, End’
=Oct. 19 1971
Portland Oregon Journal
Former Demo Star Mitchell Monopolizes
NWC Statistics
