Mitchell Jr., William Gardiner "Red" 

William Gardiner "Red" Mitchell Jr. 95, of Longview, passed away peacefully 
January 29, 2006, at a local care center. Services will be noon Wednesday, 
February 1, 2006, at the Centre Presbyterian Church, with Dr. W.D. O'Neal 
officiating. Burial will follow in the Elderville Cemetery. Arrangements are 
under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. William Gardiner was 
born March 2, 1910, on the Walnut Grove Farm in the Elderville Community, to 
William Gardiner Mitchell Sr. and Ethel Mae Fall Mitchell. He was a descendant 
of the pioneer Willis Wilson family, who settled on the Walnut Grove Farm in 
1849. He was a lifelong resident of Gregg County. He attended primary school 
in Elderville, and graduated from Longview High School in 1927. After 
graduating from A&M College in 1931, he worked in the Gregg County Tax 
Assessor's Office for several years and then worked as an accountant for the 
E.C. Johnston Production Company for more than 30 years. William Gardiner 
loved to fish, hunt, and garden, but his favorite pastime was reading. His 
grandmother, Anna Wilson Mitchell, influenced his love of reading by giving 
him books from his childhood until she died in 1940. One of his outstanding 
talents was reciting poetry from memory for as long as he had an audience. 
William Gardiner was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Longview for 
60 years. He taught Sunday school and served as deacon and ruling elder. Since 
1986, he had been a member of the Centre Presbyterian Church at Elderville, 
where his grandmother, Anna Mitchell, was a founding member. William Gardiner 
was married to Grace Lee Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Martin, of 
Longview, on December 25, 1934. Grace preceded him in death in 1968. He adored 
Grace and cherished her memory until his death. Also preceding him in death were 
his parents; his brother, Willis Wilson Mitchell; and his sister, Mary Ethel 
Kutzer.  Survivors include his brother, Zack Fall Mitchell and wife, Mary Evelyn 
Martin Mitchell, of Longview; and sisters-in-law, Nell Mitchell of Fredericksburg, 
and Judy Martin, Marie Bivins, and Helen Johnston, all of Longview. He is also 
survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends, Susie and Tom 
Pellett. Pallbearers will be Ron Mitchell, David Mitchell, Willis Mitchell Jr., 
Dr. Kent Mitchell, and Ralph Kutzer Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family requests 
that memorials be made to the Centre Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 8531 FM 
2011, Longview, TX 75603; or to the charity of your choice. A memorial guestbook 
may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.
 

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 1/31/2006.