James I. Mitchell, 84, U.S. Army Veteran and Accomplished Salesman
James I. Mitchell, age 84, of San Dimas, California and of Quincy, Illinois and formerly of Avon Lake, Ohio passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2003 in San Dimas Community Hospital, San Dimas, California. He was born April 1, 1919 in Lorain, Ohio, the son of George Roy and Elizabeth (nee Schmauch) Mitchell. On July 27, 1947 he married Anne F. (nee Derfiny) in Lorain, Ohio. She preceded him in death on May 9, 1997.Mr. Mitchell was a graduate of Lorain High School, Lorain, Ohio and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for 3 years. He was employed by Thew Shovel Company before entering the U.S. Army where he served from November 6, 1942 to April 20, 1946. He had the rank of 2nd Lt. In the 812th Ordinance Base Depot Company, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater. When he returned from the service, he took various accounting courses and worked as an accountant for several years.
He joined Clark Equipment Co., Cleveland, as a salesman in the forklift division, and after 2 years was made Sales Manager. He joined Stahl Metal products, Division of the Scott and Fetzer Company where he was employed as a salesman and after one year was made sales manager where he hired and trained a sales force which eventually divided the USA into five areas which each had five regional salesmen. He held positions of General Sales Manager, Manager of Utility Sales, Vice President of Distributor Sales, Vice President of Sales Administration where he handled all sales, marketing functions, promotional programs, advertising, inside sales and prices.
He was a resident of Avon Lake from 1946 to 1981 when he moved to Quincy to work for Knaphelde Mfg. Co. and retired in May 1, 1986 as Director of Utility Industry Sales and Marketing. Mr. Mitchell was a founding member of St. Joseph Church, Avon Lake and a member of All Saints Parish-St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Quincy, IL and a former member of the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club, SCORE, Past Governor of Moose Lodge #552, Lorain; Life member of the Moose Elks Lodge in Quincy, IL and the Spring Lake County Club, Quincy, IL.
Survivors include a daughter, Judith Anne Eastman and her husband Rusty of Chino Hills, California; two grandsons, James L. Eastman and Christopher L. Eastman both of Chino Hill, CA. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, George and William Glacken, Robert Dunlavey and John Mitchell.
Friends may call at the BUSCH-BURMEISTER FAMILY CHAPEL, 163 Avon-Belden Rd. Avon Lake from 4-6 p.m. Monday, where a wake service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Joseph Church, 32929 Lake Rd. Avon Lake on Tuesday August 12 at 10:00 a.m. Fr. James R. Becherer will officiate. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain. Full military rites will be conducted at the graveside by V.F.W. Post 451, Lorain. Memorials may be forwarded to St. Joseph Church.