Donald Lincoln Mitchell

Donald Lincoln Mitchell, 85, died peacefully at Hospice of the Western Reserve, February 27th, 2010. Dearest husband of 58 years of Dorothy �Dottie� Mitchell (nee Taylor), father of Jim Mitchell of Jackson, Wyoming, and Ann Mitchell (Chris Belting) of Lafayette, Colorado. Grandfather of Taylor Gallegos, Cameron Gallegos, Mia Belting, Jameson Mitchell, and Cora Mitchell. Brother of William Mitchell, and Dorothy Zanetti (Albert), and the late James Mitchell. Beloved uncle and friend to many. A WWII US Navy veteran, Don worked as comptroller at Highland View Hospital and Metro General. He was a 43-year Lyndhurst resident, currently of Mayfield Heights. Don served on the Purdue Alumni Board of Directors, Lyndhurst Recreation Commission, was a Director of SE-L Little Leagues, and a long-time baseball umpire. Don loved bowling, golf, and Purdue. He loved ice cream, football, and quarter-pounders with cheese. He loved to tell jokes, sometimes even the same one over and over. He loved his wife, Dottie, his brothers and sister, his kids, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. He loved his many, many friends and kept in touch for the past 36 years via his one-of-a-kind Christmas letter. Mitch was an easy guy to love. With a kind word and a joke for everyone he met, he made friends everywhere. He was even known to give strangers the hat off his head. Some of his friends are from his youth in Shaker Heights, some from the armed services in WWII, and some are from his college days. Many worked with him at Highland View Hospital and Metropolitan General. Others are neighbors, from Milverton to Mayview to Mayfield Heights. He made friends as he swam at Peter B. Lewis. Still others are newer friends from his recent stay at University Hospital and the Hospice of the Western Reserve. Mitch was the ultimate sports fan. If there was a sporting event in town, he was in the bleachers. He was a true fan, devoted to his teams through thick and thin (a necessary quality for a lifelong Browns and Indians fan!) He followed his beloved Purdue Boilermakers, and the football, soccer, and baseball teams of his own and his friends� grandkids. Mitch was a traveler. He revisited Tongatapu many times, where he was stationed during the War. In the fall of 2008, Don participaped in the "Honor Flight" of WW II Veterans who were flown to Washington, DC. He traveled the world with his family and friends, and was always most interested in the people he met. As he continues his journey, we wish him Godspeed, a good game, and a good laugh. The family prefers that those who wish may make memorial gifts to The Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E.185th St., Cleveland, OH, 44119; Womankind, 5400 Transportation Blvd, Cleveland, OH, 44125 or an organization of choice. Please meet at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for a Mass of Celebration, 6850 Mayfield Rd., Gates Mills, OH, Monday, March 1st at 1 PM. Family interment services will be held in All Souls Cemetery. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGROIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28TH FROM 2-4 AND 6-8. BROWN-FORWARD Service 216 752-1200