Tuesday, February 20, 2018

William P. Mitchell d. 1 November 1956


Optical Firm Owner Dies

William P. Mitchell Was Civic Leader

William P. Mitchell, 59, one of the leading business and civic leaders of Waynesvville, died in Fort Wood Hospital at 3:30 a.m. today. He was owner of the Waynesville Optical Company, with far-reaching trade in lenses for shooting glasses.

One of the civilian leaders in the successful effort to obtain Ft. Wood as a permanent Army installation, Mr. Mitchell was widely known over the Ozarks. He moved to Waynesville in 1947 and established his company, first known as the Mitchell Optical Company.

Mr. Mitchell was born in Tennessee and had been in the optical business more than 40 years. He started in Kansas City in 1914 with the Columbia Optical Company. IN 1923 he studied optometry at the Needles Institute of Optometry in Kansas City and established a branch office of the Columbia firm in Oklahoma City. He later served as special representative in the middle west with Bausch and Lomb for 18 years.

During World War II he manufactured optical elements for the armed forces in St. Louis. He turned his attention to shooting glasses and moved to Waynesville. In recent years he also has manufactured driving glasses, designed to reduce glare and increase visibility at night.

Survivors include his wife, Jean and a son, William P., Jr., of Grapevine, Tex., and daughter, Mrs. Nancy Christy, Waynesville.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete pending word from distant relatives. They will be under direction of Hedges. The request has been made that instead of flowers donations be made toward a municipal swimming pool for Waynesville.

Springfield Leader and Press
Springfield, Missouri
1 November 1956
Page 33

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