Ervin O. "Butch" Mitchell, Jr., age 75 and a lifelong resident of Elwood, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at Community Hospital in Anderson following complications from pneumonia. He was born on January 1, 1941 in Elwood, the son of Ervin O. and Lucy (Phelps) Mitchell and arrived on New Year's Day as the winner of the second annual baby "derby".

Butch graduated from Wendell L. Willkie High School in 1959 where he was best remembered as one of their star basketball players. He then joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. While there he met his future wife, Louise A. Ormond, whom he married on July 6, 1962. They later returned to Elwood and shared 54 years of marriage together.

During his career, Butch worked for Chrysler Corporation and had previously been a truck driver. He retired in 2010 from Securitas Co. where he had worked as a security guard at Firestone Corporation in Noblesville for over 10 years. Butch was well-known as for his talent as a pool player and won several tournaments. He once played in Las Vegas at the Miller Lite World Series Pool Tournament. He loved all sports, but was a devoted fan of Indiana University basketball, Chicago Bears football, and Jeff Gordon in NASCAR racing. Butch and his family enjoyed traveling to NASCAR races and camping in their RV. He was a member of the Elwood Elks Lodge #368, the Elwood V.F.W. Post #5782, and the American Legion; and he enjoyed attending activities at all of these organizations. He and Louise formerly enjoyed camping, and Butch especially enjoyed woodworking and taking care of his lawn in recent years. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Butch's family includes his wife of 54 years, Louise A. Mitchell of Elwood; 3 children, Sherry (husband Eddie) Beard of New Trenton, David (wife Kris) Mitchell of Noblesville, and Diane Lewellen of Fort Myers, FL; brother, Jim (wife Clara) Mitchell of Anderson; sister, Marcia (husband Phil) Moser of Marietta, GA; 7 grandchildren, Nick Vonderheide, Natalie (husband Danny) Seda, Emily Vonderheide, Ashley Beard, Lesley Beard, Kyle Mitchell, and Travis Mitchell; 2 great-grandchildren, Zoe Seda and Aurora Seda; brother-in-law, Bill Cox of Elwood; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and 2 sisters, Carolyn Gaskill and Nancy Kay Cox.

A funeral service celebrating Butch's life will be conducted at 3:00 PM on Friday, July 22, 2016 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Rev. William R. Garver of Bethel United Methodist Church in Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Elwood with military honors conducted by officers of the U.S. Army and Elwood V.F.W. honor guard team. Visitation for family and friends will be held from Noon to 3:00 PM on Friday, July 22, 2016 prior to the funeral at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elwood V.F.W. Post #5782 through the funeral home. Online condolences to the family may be made at copherfeslermay.com.