Resthaven Memorial Park

Shawnee, Pottatomie County, Oklahoma

© Shawnee News Star
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Published by The Shawnee News-Star from Mar. 19 to Mar. 20, 2025.

Thank You For Your Service!

William Richard "Bill" Mitchell

December 3, 1930 ~ March 15, 2025

William Richard "Bill" Mitchell, 94, of Shawnee, Okla., passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Shawnee.

Bill was born December 3, 1930, on a share-cropper's farm in Midlothian, Lincoln County, Okla., a son of Thomas and Nancy "Elizabeth" (Gregg) Mitchell. He was raised in the area, attending school at White Rock before graduating from Chandler High School. Following high school, he married his first love, Dorthy Miller in 1949. They were married for nearly 50 years before her passing in 1998. Later, he earned his Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma City University, then his Master's degree from Boston University in Massachusetts, and PhD at University of Oklahoma. His graduate studies at Boston were interrupted by his call to military service in Korea. From 1958 until his retirement in 1996, Bill was a professor and academic dean at Oklahoma Baptist University. After retirement, Bill was able to pursue his desire to focus more on writing. Furthermore, he was ordained to the ministry and has served in churches in Colorado and Oklahoma. In his retirement years, after Dorthy died, Bill met Dora Mae Tacker and they were married in 1998 until her passing in December of 2024.

As an accomplished author and poet, Bill has had his poetry published in several literary magazines and anthologies. He has also written and published articles and short stories. As a playwright, Dr. Mitchell has written "Tilghman", performed in Chandler, Okla., and at Shawnee Little Theater, "Cloud of Witnesses, " performed during OBU's Centennial Celebration and "To Venture, To Prevail" celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Wiley Post, performed at the Air and Space Museum in Oklahoma City. Some of his other works include his poems in Voices of the Advent: A Collection of Christmas Poems and Benedictions: Collected Poems 1950-2024. His poems have been anthologized in Adam Among the Television Trees, The Country of The Risen King, and Dry Bones Anthology 2000. Some of the novels Bill has written are In Earthen Vessels, Hiding Amy, and My Home, For Now. He wrote non-fiction, as well, including My Life Before the Fire, Trying to Teach Like Jesus: Essays and Addresses on Christian Higher Education, Running with the Horses: Living the Gospel, The Legacy of Thomas Wesley Mitchell, and How To Write Better Poetry Without Much Help Bill's wit and wisdom will live on in his writings.

Survivors include his children, Daniel R. Mitchell and wife Jeri of Maud, Okla., Janet Proodian and husband John of Columbus, Ohio, and daughter-in-law Denise Mitchell of Dayton, Ohio, stepson, Jim Tacker and wife Dana of Oklahoma City; grandchildren, Meredith Keith and husband Jon of Erie, Colo., David W. Mitchell of Houston, Texas, Merrick McGuire and wife Tracey of Edmond, Okla., David Proodian, and Elena Proodian, both of Columbus, Ohio, Jordan Tacker, Joshua Tacker, and Phillip Tacker, all of Oklahoma City, and five great-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Dorthy (Miller) Mitchell, wife Dora Mae (Tacker) Mitchell, son Michael Mitchell, stepdaughter Tammara Tacker, as well as his siblings, Thomas Mitchell, Hudon Mitchell, Mary Margaret Winkler, and John Rex Mitchell.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respect at the funeral home from 12 - 7 p.m. with the family present to greet friends from 5 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 at the funeral home. A funeral ceremony to celebrate Bill's remarkable life will be held Friday, March 21, 2025, 10 a.m. at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service with Pastor Jon Keith officiating. Following the ceremony, Bill will be laid to rest next to his wife Dorthy at Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee.

The family wishes to provide a special thank you to Heartland Hospice, Primrose Nursing Center, and his care giver, Glenda Ellison. ¶ Memorial contributions may be given to Mitchell English Scholarship or Thomas & Elizabeth Mitchell Memorial Scholarship c/o OBU University Advancement, 500 West University Street, Shawnee, OK 74804 or www.okbu.edu/giving/

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service, www.walkerfuneral.com.