Roll Call Tribute

Published in Houston Chronicle from July 14 to July 15, 2016

Don Mitcham(1924 - 2016)
Don L. Mitcham
1924-2016
Don L. Mitcham died July 10, 2016. He was born October 12, 1924 on his father's farm near Buckholts, Texas. After graduating from Buckholts High School in 1941, he attended Texas A&M until his class of '45 was drafted into the service in 1943. Assigned to the "42nd Rainbow Division" of the United States Army and after landing on the beach at Marseilles in late 1944, he saw combat duty in France, Belgium and Germany. He fought in the "Battle of the Bulge" and its immediate aftermath, crossing the Rhine River into Germany. As one of the liberating American troops he witnessed the horrors of the Dachau death camp. He did his part along with his fellow soldiers, to help drive a collective wooden stake through the heart of the Third Reich and unconditionally conquer Germany. His military division ended up in Austria, at the war's conclusion, face to face to with the Soviet Russian Army. Don L. Mitcham and his Brothers-in- Arms, many of whom like him, were young men in their early twenties, literally saved the world by their bravery and sacrifice. They were and always will be, the Greatest Generation.
In 1946 after the war's successful conclusion, and upon honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Texas A&M, graduating in the summer of 1948 with a degree in Accounting. Without question, his proudest lifelong honor was being an Aggie.
Upon graduation, and for the next forty years, Don was employed by Sears in many accounting and managerial assignments, retiring in 1987.
After his retirement from Sears, Don would often voluntarily accompany and assist his beloved wife, Imogene in her educational presentations and lectures. Imogene was a teacher and educator employed by the Houston Independent School District for forty-three years. First as an eighth grade science teacher at F. M. Black Junior High School, then later as a roving lecturer from the Burke Baker Planetarium, she provided educational presentations to elementary school children at schools across the city in preparation for their impending field trips to the Planetarium. Don so enjoyed seeing the school children's faces light up as they began to learn and appreciate the planets and the stars.
Imogene was a teacher and educator employed by the Houston Independent School District for forty-three years. First as an eighth grade science teacher at F. M. Black Junior High School, then later as a roving lecturer from the Burke Baker Planetarium, she provided educational presentations to elementary school children at schools across the city in preparation for their impending field trips to the Planetarium.
His most valuable accomplishment in life was finding his life partner and dearest friend, Doris Imogene Coffee. Don and Imogene were married on June 11, 1949 and remained so for sixty-seven years until the day of his passing. They and their three sons have lived and resided in Houston since 1956. During the 1950's and 1960's, as his sons were growing up in the Oak Forest neighborhood, Don Mitcham exemplified the classic American parent and father for that era. He and his wife Imogene were Sunday school teachers at St. Stephens Methodist Church. He was a Little League Baseball Coach at the Oak's Dads Club. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Adult Leader in Troop 604 during the time period when his sons were active in Scouting. Like his father and grandfather before him and for virtually all of his adult life, he was a Freemason and a charter member of Oak Forest Lodge #1398 A.F. & A.M.
His mother, Bessie Ezzell Mitcham his father, Marvin Mitcham and his older sister Frances, predeceased him.
Don is survived by his loving wife Imogene.
He is also survived by his brother James Cooper Mitcham and sister Dolores Warren; son David Donnell Mitcham, wife Judith and granddaughter Susannah; son Garry Wayne Mitcham; son Michael Lynn Mitcham, wife Ivy, granddaughter Megan and grandson Matthew.
Don is also survived by many cousins, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews of his large extended family.
A memorial service and calling hours with the family will take place on Sunday July 17, 2016 from two o'clock in the afternoon until five o'clock in the evening at the Bradshaw Carter Funeral home.
On Monday July 18, 2016, at half past nine o'clock in the morning, there will be a military graveside service at the National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, 77038.




Funeral Home
Bradshaw-Carter Memorial & Funeral Services
1734 W ALABAMA ST Houston, TX 77098
(713) 521-0066