William Owen "Bill" Mitchell, 83, of Vidalia, GA passed away on June 13, 2025 at Westhill Newnan Crossing Assisted Living Facility in Newnan, Georgia after a brief illness. An accomplished professional, avid golfer, and proud veteran, Bill's life was marked by service, leadership, and a deep commitment to his community.
Born on August 18, 1941 in Maysville, Kentucky, Bill was the son of Roy Francis Mitchell and Beulah Maude Carpenter Mitchell. He moved to Ohio in seventh grade and graduated in 1959 from Withrow High School, Cincinnati, OH. Bill earned an engineering certificate from the University of Cincinnati and later, a degree in Business Management from East Georgia College, laying the foundation for a distinguished career that would span decades and touch lives around the globe.
Bill served honorably in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1963 as an instrument technician. His military service instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and dedication that he carried into every aspect of his life.
Following his time in the Air Force, Bill worked at Cincinnati Milacron and then began a long and successful career with Oxford Industries. Over the course of 29 years with the company, he rose through the ranks-from installing machines to ultimately serving as Vice President of Oxford Shirt Quality. His work took him to factories around the world, where he applied his keen eye for detail and unwavering standards of excellence.
For his second career, Bill continued to serve his community as President of the Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority. His leadership was widely recognized: he was named Vidalia Citizen of the Year in 1993, honored by the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives as Executive of the Year in 2013, and received the prestigious Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence from the Georgia Economic Developers Association in 2015.
Bill was a member of Vidalia First United Methodist Church (Vidalia Cornerstone Church). He was a long-time member of the Rotary Club and enjoyed many rounds of golf with friends, winning tournaments and making at least four holes-in-one. He loved his dog, Bailey.
He is survived by his wife, Cathryn "Cathy" Thompson Mitchell; son, Daniel "Danny" Roy Mitchell (Kimberly) and daughter, Deborah "Debbie" May Ward (Matt); Deloris "Dee" Mitchell, mother of his children; step-son, Matthew Meehan; grandchildren, Jake and Jenna Mitchell and Joshua (Olivia), Caleb, Luke, Thomas, Anna, and Rachel Ward; great-granddaughters, Ava and Emma Ward; and sister, Barbara (Barb) Welch; .
A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Vidalia Cornerstone Church, 209 Church Street, Vidalia, GA. A memorial service will follow at 12:00 p.m. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Vidalia Rotary Club to establish the Bill Mitchell scholarship.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.mckoon.com.
McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory, 770-253-4580
