William Mitchell Obituary (1928 – 2022) – Perrysburg, OH

1928 – 2022

William Carlton Mitchell, 93, of Perrysburg, OH, passed away January 25, 2022, shortly after completing a crossword puzzle, in Naples FL, where he spent the winter for the past 29 years. He was born on April 5, 1928 in Floral Park New York, to Robie and Loretta (Helmsdorfer) Mitchell. Having been raised during the Depression and losing his loving mother at a young age developed Bill’s frugality, moxie, and sense of independence.

Bill and his older brother, Robert Mitchell, were raised in Garden City, NY. He was a 1949 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in civil engineering. While at MIT, among other affiliations, he was active in student government and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, serving as an officer in both. He was also proudly a part of MIT’s ROTC program.

After college, Bill began working for the Reliance Electric Company based in Cleveland Ohio. After his first job assignment in Philadelphia, Bill was called up to active duty as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Army Corp of Engineers serving primarily in Hohenfels, Germany near what is now the Czech Republic border. Using his civil engineering degree, he assisted in the construction of a new Army training base.

Upon leaving the service, he returned to Reliance Electric and after a couple assignments on the East coast, was eventually assigned as the branch manager of the Toledo office in 1953. It was in Toledo where he found his permanent home and let his entrepreneurial spirit shine. After turning down several promotions and leaving Reliance in 1960, he became involved with several manufacturing companies and real estate ventures. Real estate development became his true passion. He decided to be his own boss and started a firm that would eventually become Mitchell Development Company in 1965. He was involved in the development of numerous residential subdivisions, office, and medical buildings throughout the Toledo area and other States. Bill was a co-founder of Republic Development which developed property in other parts of Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, and Florida and was a co-founder of Toledo Telecasting which eventually became the local FOX TV affiliate, WUPW FOX36. Many of these business relationships resulted in close personal friendships and too many to count tennis and golf trips.

Bill met his wife of the past 55 years, Marilyn (Miller) Mitchell in Toledo on a tennis date at the Inverness Club. Together they raised a son and daughter who are eternally grateful for his wry wit, love, and wisdom. Bill and Marilyn loved to travel and visited over 30 countries through the years, passing down a love of adventure among their children and grandchildren.

Bill was a past President of the Inverness Club, where he was a member for 68 years, a member of Belmont Country Club, The Toledo Club and Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples FL. He was an avid golfer, tennis player and squash player. He enjoyed the fact that he has 3 holes-in-one (and his son has zero). He couldn’t carry a tune, but loved to go the symphony or listen to classical and swing music. He served as Board President of Hope Lutheran Church and Lutheran Social Services. His proudest philanthropic involvement was serving as the longtime Board President of The LEARNING CLUB of Toledo, whose mission is to provide afterschool programming for at-risk children in Toledo.

Bill is survived by his wife Marilyn; son, Stephen Robie Mitchell (Jenny) of Ottawa Hills, OH; daughter, Sarah Mitchell Doing (Tony) of Ft. Collins, CO; his adoring grandchildren, Robie, Rebecca and Margaret Mitchell; Katie and Nicholas Doing and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.

Due to the weather in Toledo not being well suited to an outdoor party in February, we know Bill would prefer that all family and friends join us in a celebration of his life at the Inverness Club on June 5th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Interment will be private.

Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to The LEARNING CLUB of Toledo, 5800 Monroe St., Building F5, Sylvania, OH 43560.