Donald Devere Mitchell

1927 - 2013

Donald Devere Mitchell June 2, 1927 - October 6, 2013 Donald Mitchell was born to Virgil and Mabel Dimler, in the township of Lake Fremont, Minnesota on a small farm. He was one of ten children. He came to California when he was fourteen to live with his oldest sister in San Fernando and graduated from high school. He enlisted in the Air Corp Reserve 9/1944 to 5/1945 in Pacoima, CA. He then joined the US Navy in October 1945 and was honorably discharged August 1946 as a Seaman Second Class, aboard the USS GRIMES. He moved to Bakersfield and joined the National Guard of the US, Company 'M', 185th Infantry. He was honorably discharged in June 1948. He attended Bakersfield Junior College also at this time. He married Betty Crawford in August 1948. He drove a truck for Standard Oil Company until he purchased a Richfield gas station in Oildale. In 1955, he received his Real Estate Brokers License and established Minner & Mitchell Reality in Oildale on the corner of J.C. Wattenbarger's property with Doug Minner. Later it became Don Mitchell Realty and then he became the first Help U Sell franchise in Bakersfield. He was an active member of the Oildale Lions Club. He built his first homes in 1963 and continued to build custom homes, duplexes and remodels until 2000. He married Joyce Patten in 1967 and together they pursued the construction business and were avid golfers. He then joined the real estate firm of Karpe Real Estate with his long time friend Bob Karpe. He retired at 83. Don always enjoyed sports and was an avid softball pitcher in the local leagues and became addicted to the game of golf in the late 50's. He started at North Kern with Jimmy Haggerty and played at Stockdale Country Club, joined Bakersfield Country Club, where he also built a majority of his custom homes. When he developed a tract in the Rio Bravo Country Club with Bill Wright, he built his own home in the track and became a active member. He was always trying to find ways to challenge himself. On his 68th birthday he shot 68, 72 on his 72nd birthday, and on his 80th birthday he shot 80 holes of golf all under the score of 85. He loved to sing with his brothers and sisters at family gatherings and carried it over into singing karaoke at home and any place it was setup. His favorites were Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Jerry Vail, Engelbert Humperdinck and others from that era. He didn't stop playing golf until late July of this year (2013). He is survived by his children Karen O'Neill, Bruce (Leslie) and Mark Mitchell , Stacy Patten Evernsen (Carl) and Jeff Patten. Grandchildren Flynn O'Neill, Marisa, Travis, Tara and Laurin Mitchell. He is also mourned by his sisters Vera(Porterville), Mae(Ukiah), Pearl(Lodi), Donna(AZ) and brother Harold (Ore). His mother and father, wife Joyce, brothers Gene, Kenneth and Dewayne and sister LaVonne have passed before him. His family would like to thank Judy E., RN and Margo RN with Hoffman Hospice for helping care for Don. We would also like to thank Maria Gaytan for her loving care and all of Don's golf buddies who encouraged and visited him. Services will be at the Bakersfield National Cemetery, Hwy 58 and East Bear Mountain Blvd., at 2:00 pm, Thursday, October 17. A Celebration of Life will be held at Rio Bravo CC Clubhouse, 1:30pm, Saturday, October 19. www.bakersfield.com/obits