Long-time resident of Baytown, Texas, Seth H. Mitchell, Jr. died in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday May 7, 2010, of complications resulting from a stroke which occurred on Sunday May 2, 2010. Throughout his life, Mr. Mitchell was a loving son and brother, a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend, a conscientious worker, an avid patriot, and a godly man of strong faith.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Ensley, Alabama, on July 14, 1925, to Seth and Effie Mitchell. He grew up in Fairfield, served in the United States Air Force during World War II, and attended and graduated from Auburn University in 1948 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. In this same year, he married Kathleen Rohrbach of Hondo, Texas. Mrs. Kathleen Mitchell died in November of 1993, and in June of 1996, he married Wanda Ellis of Baytown, Texas.
After marrying in the summer of 1948, Seth and Kathleen moved to Baytown, Texas—a community which captured both of their hearts. Here, he worked for 35 years in many capacities for Exxon Refinery. In addition to this work, Mitchell and his family were long-time members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish—where he served on many building campaigns and fund-raising drives. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. Mitchell’s volunteer activities in Baytown were also numerous. Among the chief of these was a four year tenure on the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees from 1964-1968.
Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, Wanda, who lives in Corpus Christi. His surviving children and step-children include Sharon Mitchell Sellers and her husband, Walt, in Fayetteville, Georgia; Sandra Mitchell Hollander and her husband, Ira, in Fort Worth; Seth Mitchell and his wife, Laurie, in San Antonio; John Mitchell and his wife, Kay, in Fort Worth; Kathy Mitchell Halasy and her husband, Chris, in Toledo, Ohio; Dan Ellis and his wife, Rhonda, in Houston; and Jan Ellis Cuellar and her husband, Arnold, in Corpus Christi. His surviving grandchildren and step-grandchildren include Carl Mullis and his wife, Brooke, in Atlanta; Kathleen Sellers White and her husband, Chris, in Bethesda, MD.; Amanda Hollander in Washington, D.C.; Adam Hollander in Houston; Kevin and Seth Mitchell in Fort Worth; Matthew and Luke Halasy in Toledo, Ohio; Xavier Cuellar in Corpus Christi; and Daniel Cuellar in San Jose, California. In August of 2009, Mr. Mitchell was blessed with his first great-grandchild—George Wilson Mullis. In addition to this large, immediate family, Mitchell is survived by his brother, Joseph Mitchell, in Durham, N.C., as well as several nieces and a nephew in North Carolina and New York.
A memorial Mass to celebrate Seth Mitchell’s life is scheduled to be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2010, at St. Elizabeth A. Seton Catholic Church (Leon Springs), 8500 Cross Mountain Trail, San Antonio, Texas 78255. On Friday, May 21, 2010, a visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Family Center of Crespo & Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services, 6123 Garth Road, Baytown 77521, 281.839.0700. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Baytown Historical Museum, Lee College, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, or any charity of your choice.
Memorials: For those desiring, memorial donations may be made to the Baytown Historical Museum, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1907 Carolina, Baytown or the Lee College Foundation, P. O. Box 818, Baytown, Texas 77522, or the charity of one's choice.