Obituary of Walter Mitchell

Walter Frank Mitchell, lifetime resident of Lloydminster, passed away in the Lloydminster Hospital on April 8, 2013 at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ruth; his children, Debbie and her husband Neil Wells of Lloydminster and Marilyn and her husband Rick Everson of Kelowna, BC; his grandchildren Brayden, Brianna and Britt Wells, and Sarah and Jordan Everson; as well as his brother, Ted of Walnut Creek, California and his sisters, Helen Japp of Kindersley Saskatchewan and Muriel Hughes of North Bay, Ontario; and numerous nieces and nephews. Walter was predeceased by his parents, Hubert and Minnie, his brothers, Jack, Lou, Phil and his sisters, Dorothy in infancy, Kitty Garden and Grace Patnoe. He was proud of his British heritage, which included George and John McDougall for whom McDougall United Church in Edmonton is named. Walter was born on August 18, 1927 on the family farm near Devonia Lake, Alberta the second youngest in the family. He attended school until Grade 9 at Devonia Lake and then spent one year of high school at the new Lloydminster High School. Although he didn't graduate, he later earned his journeyman motor mechanic diploma from what is now SAIT in Calgary and at the age of 58 earned his heavy duty mechanic ticket. He worked at various garages in Lloydminster including R.J.R Noyes, Thorpe-McNaughton Chrysler, White Rose Service Station, and Heavy Crude as well as owning the BA station in the 1950s. At the age of 21 he bought a gravel truck and started a successful excavating and gravel business with his brother Ted. They later sold the business to RJ Cleve. Before retirement, Walter enjoyed working for the City of Lloydminster at the Russ Robertson Arena. He enjoyed driving the Zamboni, socializing with the hockey players, fans and coaches but was unimpressed by the litter left in the change rooms! Walter enjoyed people. He loved visiting and appreciated any visitor young or old. Cars and all things mechanical remained his passion until the end of his days. He enjoyed talking about them and offering advice to any Points West Staff experiencing car troubles, where he had resided for the past 5 years. At Points West he developed a love of Bingo and crib, because it gave him the opportunity to socialize with the other residents. Walter was a man who believed in hard work and integrity. He rarely complained, accepted what life had given him and valued his family. He was proud of his grandchildren and believed that they were the most special children ever! Walter's family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Kerlis for his exceptional care, the "beautiful nurses" on the Third Floor who Walter regarded as his extended family and to Points West for caring for him for the past five years. A memorial will be held at a later date. Struggling with many health issues, Walter's last gift was to donate his brain to Dr. Rajput at the U of S. for further research into movement diseases and therefore, in lieu of flowers a donation in his name to the following Foundation would be welcomed: Dr. Ali Rajput Endowment For Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Research Royal University Hospital Foundation 103 Hospital Drive Saskatoon SK S7N 0W8 Telephone: (306) 655 6530