The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
September 28, 1993

DONNELL MITCHELL

A memorial service for Donnell Mitchell, former superintendent of the Willamina School District, will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Willamina Middle School. He died of a heart attack Thursday in his home. He was 70.

Mr. Mitchell was born March 22, 1923, in Leedy, Okla. As a child, he lived with his family in Portland and Yale, Wash., before settling in Willamina.

Mr. Mitchell served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his discharge, he returned to Willamina, where he worked at Shetterly's Hardware store, as a tire salesman and car salesman in McMinnville.

He also raised blue lake beans while attending Linfield College and Western Oregon State College. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Linfield and took elementary education and administrative courses at WOSC.

He taught two years at Willamina Elementary School before becoming superintendent-principal of the school. The school consolidated with Willamina High School in the mid-1960s, and Mr. Mitchell became superintendent of the new district. He served until a heart attack in 1968. He returned to the district in 1971 as superintendent and retired in 1981.

He raised American saddlebred and thoroughbred horses, which he showed and raced in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Canada.

He attended the Methodist church and was a member of the Elks Lodge, Buell Grange, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators and Retired Education Administrators.

He married Lucille Aerts in 1952 in Roy.

Surviving are his wife, and brothers, Smith of Willamina and Leo Jr. of Port Orford.

The family suggests that remembrances be contributions to the Willamina School District, through Macy & Son Funeral Directors in McMinnville.

An interment service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Union Point Cemetery in Banks.