William E. Mitchell Sr ,94, of Bear Creek Twp, passed on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, while in the care of the Edenbrook at Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Born on April 13, 1931, in the Miners-Mills section of Wilkes-Barre. He was the son of the late William and Anna Sterba Mitchell. William grew up in the city and attended city schools and attended James M. Coughlin High School where he participated on the football team.

He then joined the United States Army during the Korean War and was stationed with the 109th field Infantry in Okinawa, Japan, until he was honorably discharged.

After returning home William found work in the coal mines as a miner and as a milk delivery driver for Pervin Dairy.

In 1967, William opened his own business, the Bear Creek Nursery. His Nursery business began doing well so in short time he opened two other businesses: The Bear Creek Ski Shack and the Bear Creek Garden Center.

William married the former Louise Hayes and together they raised four children: Kenneth; Lee Ann; William Jr., and Thomas. The family resided in Bear Creek Township for a lifetime.

In his spare time, William enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing and traveling with his family and friends. He was a member of the Bear Creek Lions Club, and the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA).

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Anna; loving wife Louise; daughter Lee Ann, son Kenneth, and sister Marion Malacheski

Surviving are his sons William Jr, Bear Creek; Thomas, Bear Creek; grandchildren Thomas Mitchell Jr. and Jennifer Mitchell Alvardo, sister Diane Purcell, Michigan; brothers, Robert Mitchell, Parson; Richard Mitchell and his wife, Debbie, Wilkes-Barre; and nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for William to be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in the Bernadine Hall of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, 13 Hudson Road, Plains Twp., with the Rev. John C. Lambert, celebrant. Interment will be held in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Bear Creek. Visitation will be held prior to Mass at the Bernadine Hall from 830 a.m. until the beginning of the service.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., Plain Twp.