William Gardiner Mitchell, JR.

William Gardiner Red Mitchell, Jr., 95, of Longview passed away peacefully in a local care center on January 29, 2006. Services will be 12 Noon Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at the Centre Presbyterian Church with Dr. W.D. O?Neal officiating. Burial will follow in the Elderville Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. William Gardiner was born March 2, 1910 on the Walnut Grove farm in the Elderville community to William Gardiner Mitchell, Sr. and Ethel Mae Fall Mitchell. He was a descendant of the pioneer Willis Wilson family, who settled on the Walnut Grove farm in 1849. He was a lifelong resident of Gregg County. He attended primary school in Elderville and graduated from Longview High School in 1927. After graduating from A & M College in 1931, he worked in the Gregg County tax assessor?s office for several years and then worked as an accountant for the E.C. Johnston Production Company for over 30 years. William Gardiner loved to fish, hunt and garden, but his favorite pastime was reading. His grandmother, Anna Wilson Mitchell influenced his love of reading by giving him books from his childhood until she died in 1940. One of his outstanding talents was reciting poetry from memory for as long as he had an audience. William Gardiner was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Longview for sixty years. He taught Sunday school and served as deacon and ruling elder. Since 1986, he has been a member of the Centre Presbyterian Church at Elderville where his grandmother, Anna Mitchell, was a founding member. William Gardiner was married to Grace Lee Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Martin of Longview, on December 25, 1934. Grace preceded him in death in 1968. He adored Grace and cherished her memory until his death. Also preceding him in death were his parents, his brother Willis Wilson Mitchell, and his sister Mary Ethel Kutzer. Survivors include his brother, Zack Fall Mitchell and wife Mary Evelyn Martin Mitchell of Longview, sisters-in-law Nell Mitchell of Fredericksburg, and Judy Martin, Marie Bivins, and Helen Johnston, all of Longview. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins and special friends Susie and Tom Pellett. Pallbearers will be Ron Mitchell, David Mitchell, Willis Mitchell, JR., Dr. Kent Mitchell and Ralph Kutzer, JR. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Centre Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 8531 FM 2011, Longview, Texas 75603; or to the charity of your choice.

William Gardiner Mitchell, JR.

March 2, 1910 - January 29, 2006