Ian Mitchell

Ian Colin Charles Mitchell died on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at home. He was 89 years old.A native of England, he was educated at The London Choir School before volunteering for the Royal Air Force in 1942. He graduated as a pilot from USNAS Pensacola, Fla., and served in the Middle and Far East, being demobilized with the rank of flight lieutenant. He attended Wednesbury College in England before immigrating to the United States and becoming a naturalized citizen in 1949. He retired from the Chattanooga Electric Power Board as Manager of customer accounting in 1987 after 39 years of service. "Now he can go ensure that the lights stay burning bright in Heaven".After 25 years as a member of the choir of St. Pauls Church, Chattanooga, he joined Grace Episcopal where he served as Lector and usher. Ian was a member of the British Pensacola Veterans, the Chattanooga Music Club, the English-Speaking Union, the US-China Peoples Friendship Association and EPB Retirees.Ian was preceded in death by his parents, Emily Whitmarsh Mitchell, Harry Colin Mitchell of Crayford, Kent, England; and son, Colin Mitchell, of Chattanooga.He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alice Palmer Mitchell. They met in 1937 at St. Pauls Church in Chattanooga while Ian was on a world tour with The London Choir School. Other survivors include children, Dr. Margaret (Stephen) Smith, Charles (Ann) Mitchell and Dr. Ware (Linda) Mitchell, of Johnson City, Tenn.; grandchildren include Mitchell Craig (Emily) Smith, Scott Britton Smith, Charlotte Ann Mitchell, Lauren Elizabeth Mitchell, Lindsey (Rainer) Powell, Bryan (Meredith) Mitchell and Laura Ashley Echerd; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Sawyer and Georgia Smith; cousins, Richard Chambers and Michael Broyd and family in England.A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013.Visitation will follow in the Undercroft at Grace Church following the service.In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, Book of Remembrance, and 20 Belvoir Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37411.Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson. 423-531-3975.