James A. Mitchell

Frankenmuth, MI.

James A. Mitchell, 83, of Frankenmuth, passed away peacefully Wednesday after a lingering illness. He was born Oct. 11, 1934 in Pontiac to Ada and Arden Mitchell. He grew up on Sylvan Lake in Oakland County, attended West Bloomfield schools and left in 1952 to very proudly join the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty aboard the USS The Sullivans (DD-537) during the Korean War before being transferred to London, England. That's where he met his loving wife of 64 years, Shirley Allbeury. Jim liked to joke that she was there waiting on the dock when his ship came in! In reality, the two met on a blind date, married and began their family on the iconic Abbey Road in London. Jim left the Navy in 1955 and returned stateside with his bride and new son, this time, as he would often say, bringing three sea bags instead of one! Jim and Shirley made their home in Pontiac where he began work as a milkman for Borden Dairy. They eventually moved to Flint Township where they lived 25 years raising their three sons. Jim joined plant security at Chevrolet Manufacturing in Flint and retired from General Motors in 1993. In his later years Jim and his wife moved to Frankenmuth where they started and ran a popular bed-and-breakfast for nearly nine years. Jim was an avid antique collector, a world traveler, and a great fan of the Detroit Tigers. He was a marathon runner who also ran the Bobby Crim 10 Mile Road Race seven times. During his 27 years in Frankenmuth Jim was an active member of the local VFW post and served for a time as Vice Post Commander. He was also a member of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth.

Jim is survived by his wife Shirley; sons, Glenn (Penny) of Gaylord, MI, James (Kimberly) of Longmont, CO and Greg of Frankenmuth; grandchildren, Jonathan of Lansing, MI, Glenn of Gaylord, MI, Abigail of Boulder, CO, Wayne of Frankenmuth and Ian of Traverse City, MI; twin great-granddaughters, Aida and Aubrey of Gaylord, MI; brother Adrian (Jane) of Harbor Springs, MI; and sister-in-law Mona Mitchell of Harbor Springs, MI; many nephews, nieces and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his 4-year-old brother, Robert; and recently by his brother Gerald of Harbor Springs, MI.

Family and friends may pay their respects Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. at the Cederberg Funeral Home of Frankenmuth, 590 N. Franklin St . A memorial service is scheduled Tuesday, 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Lunch will follow immediately afterward at the Bavarian Inn Lodge of Frankenmuth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim's name to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or the St. Lorenz Vicar's Fund.