Hubert Mitchell, 89, of Vero Beach, passed away on Dec. 25, 2014, surrounded by his loved ones, after several years of declining health.
He is survived by four children: Debora Mitchell Sparks (G. William) of Charlotte, N.C., Lance H. Mitchell of Herndon, Va., Tracy Mitchell of the home in Vero Beach, and Hubert Mitchell, II (Colleen) of Fairfax, Va.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brother, Robert Mitchell of San Diego, Calif.
He was the first of twin boys born to Hubert and Lillian Dugan Mitchell in Detroit, Mich., on Feb. 19, 1925.
Mitchell joined the United States Marine Corps at age 17, was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, survived the battle of Peleliu and participated in the occupation of China. He was honorably discharged in 1946, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He married Lillian McGrath in November, 1949. Like most of their generation, they were hard-working and resourceful. He could fix almost anything and make things that weren’t available in stores or from catalogs. His workbench, tools and hardware inventory were the envy of handymen throughout the extended family.
Mitchell was an avid reader. He loved music from the American songbook, classical, Debussy, Gershwin, Mancini, big band and Getz. He played piano and encouraged an appreciation of music in his children.
The GI Bill provided him the means to earn his baccalaureate “with honors.” He attained his degree in law from Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University, College of Law.) He was in private practice for several years and developed expertise in real estate law. In 1965, the family relocated to Washington, D.C., settling in Chevy Chase, Md.
He was a member of the metro-area bars (Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia) appearing before the District Court of Washington, D.C. and argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on Nov. 25, 1974. He served as President of the D.C. Land Title Association and was recognized for his leadership and expertise.
In 1995, he and Lillian retired to Vero Beach where he became an active member of the Vero Beach Art Club. He enjoyed drawing portraits with pastels and painting scenes from vacations, seascapes, boats and wildlife in oils.
Soon after his wife died in 1997, his health problems began. His daughter Tracy became his primary caregiver, seeing him through numerous health crises. They were members of Holy Cross Catholic Church where his funeral mass was held Dec. 31. Mitchell is entombed next to his beloved wife Lillian, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce. SEMPER FIDELIS.
