Harry Ward Mitchell

View Video Tribute Harry Ward Mitchell, 98, life-long resident of the Fountain Heights Community, died Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Rev. William Rolman officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Mount Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols. The family suggests memorials to Gideons International, 50 Century Boulevard, Nashville 37214 or Pleasant Mount Cemetery Association, co/ John Park, 2282 Rick Hight Road, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. Born and reared in Maury County and descendant of pioneer settlers, he was the son of the late Marshall Inmon Mitchell and Mary Editha Denham Mitchell. He attended Oak Hill and Fountain Heights schools and graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1932. His first employment in 1933 was as a knitter at Tennessee Knitting Mills. In April, 1944, he volunteered to serve in the U. S. Merchant Marines during World War II. He held the rank of Chief Petty Officer and was an instructor in radio theory at the U. S. Maritime Radio Training Station of Hoffman Island in New York Harbor. At the end of the war, he returned to work at TKM, but in 1947 began working with Southern Woodenware Company in a north Alabama territory. In 1949, he moved to Shelbyville where he was associated with Craig-Shoffner Hardware Company. In 1950, he accepted a sales position with Keith-Simmons Company and remained with them until August 1, 1979. He then formed his own company, Mid-South Sales Company, as a manufacturer's representative until his retirement in 1985. He was married May 18, 1935 to the former Clara Virginia Lamar. Their sixty-three years marriage ended with her death on March 16, 1999. Mr. Mitchell was a faithful member and steward of Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church since the age of ten years on July 29, 1928. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, Elder Deacon, clerk of the Session, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He represented the congregation at many meetings of the Columbia Presbytery and Tennessee Synod and as Elder representative from Columbia Presbytery to the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1962, 1967, 1982, and 1986. As Chairman of the Cemetery Committee, he faithfully served as overseer of the records and grounds of the churchyard for many years. Survivors include his daughter, Mary Jean Stinson of Duck River; grandchildren, Julie Diane Upshaw Mayse of Hohenwald, James W. (Heidi) Upshaw, Jr. of Columbia, Laura Upshaw (Mike) Gilmer of Spring Hill, Jason Stinson of Duck River, and Nathan Kyle (Christa) Stinson of Columbia; nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Abernathy and brother, Grady Mitchell. Pallbearers include Jack Wilsford, Charles Martin, John Park, Jerry Park, Briggs Primm, and Jonathan Bates.