O. Warren Mitchell

A private memorial life celebration for O. Warren Mitchell, 84, Lawrence, is planned for this spring.

Mr. Mitchell died February 16, 2010, in Lawrence.

He was born Sept. 23, 1925, in Abilene, the son of J.L. (Roy) and Laura Cooley Mitchell.

Mr. Mitchell graduated from Minneapolis High School, then served as an airman during World War II as a radio operator and aerial gunner on a U.S. Navy patrol bomber in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

After the war, he married Mary Aldene Letterman in Salina, June 15, 1947. She preceded him in death Jan. 8, 2001.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas School of Business in 1950.

Mr. Mitchell started his business career in Lawrence with 10 years at Morgan-Mack Ford, serving as sales manager from 1950-57. He was a Lawrence realtor for 40 years and served as president of the Lawrence Board of Realtors and vice president of the Kansas Association of Realtors. He was an early recipient of the Realtors Distinguished Service Award and retired in 1991.

He also served as president of the Lawrence Knife and Fork Club and the Lawrence Breakfast Optimist Club and chaired the annual March of Dimes campaign.

Mr. Mitchell was a member since 1948 of the First Christian Church, where he served as financial secretary, deacon elder and member of the building committee.

He was a lifetime member of the Kansas University Alumni Association, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include three sons, Richard, Lawrence; Stephen and partner Paula Selleck, Fullerton, Calif.; and Jay and wife Kim, Menlo Park, Calif.; four grandchildren: Adam, Joshua, Laura and Sarah.

Memorials may be sent to the First Christian Church, the American Legion or to a charity of the donor’s choice, in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary.