Charles Mitchell

WOOD RIVER

Charles Alfred “Chuck” Mitchell, 81, died Sunday March 12, 2006, at Alton Memorial Hospital.

A son of George Alfred and Rachel Mae (McQuay) Mitchell, he was born on Nov, 9, 1924, in Broughton, Ill.

He and the former Virginia Rye were married on June 1, 1946, at the parsonage at St. John Evangelical and Reform Church in Wood River by the Rev. Henry Wichman. She survives.

A manager of environmental health and safety, he had worked at Olin, Dow Chemical and General Electric of Lynn, Mass., where he retired in 1984.

He was a research assistant to the Dean of Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Industrial Hygiene.

He attended Louisiana State University and Shurtleff College, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.

He earned his Master of Science degree in industrial health from Harvard University and was listed in “Who’s Who in American Industry.”

The World War II veteran served with the 99^th Infantry and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and three Battle Stars.

He was a member of the Wood River Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2859, Wood River Masonic Lodge 1062 and served as master of Amity Lodge of Danvers, Mass., in 1974.

He was a member of the Certified Safety Professionals of America, Health Physics Society of America and a lifetime member of General Electric Elfun Society.

During the 1940s and 1950s he was the leader of the Mitchell Brothers Down Home Band, playing country and western music.

In addition to his wife, surviving are two daughters and their spouses, Aleta C. and Henry J. Morriss and Sherry L. and Lawrence A. Jackson; four grandchildren, Christopher and Michael J. Morriss and Mitchell L. and Karen Jackson; many nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Darlene Miller, Nancy Kay Tierney, Elaine and Mary Rye; and brothers-in-law, Jay Miller, William Tierney and Jack Rye.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, James, Ralph, Carl and Dalph Mitchell; two sisters, Helen Soper and Mary Ellen Gill; and a brother-in-law, Frank Rye,

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Marks Mortuary in Wood River with Masonic services conducted at 5 p.m. by Wood River Masonic Lodge 1062.

The Rev. Chris Hill will officiate at services at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Burial will follow at Woodland Hill Cemetery in East Alton with military graveside services conducted by East Alton American Legion Post 794, of which he was a member.

Memorials may be given to St. John United Church of Christ in Wood River, where he was a member.

(Alton Telegraph – transcribed by James Gholson)

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