Frank Mitchell

[Roadkingcoupe]

There are a number of people that know Old Chrysler vehicles.

Few knew more about the parts as much as Frank Mitchell.

Although there are some interesting characters in the MoPaR parts business most all of them are / were colorful!

 

Frank Mitchell passed away on Tuesday night and I am sad to hear that another "old time" MoPaR parts guy is no longer with us.

 

MITCHELL, Frank February 18, 1950 - August 6, 2014 Frank Arthur Roof Mitchell went to the Lord on August 6, 2014 after a brief illness. Frank was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and moved with his family to Decatur, Georgia in 1964. Frank graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School, Class of 1967 and graduated from Perdue University in 1970. Frank has had a lifelong love of Chrysler products and built and ran Mitchell Motor Parts in Grove City, Ohio and Fairmont, Georgia. He's lived in Grove City, Ohio and Kennesaw, Georgia. Most recently, he split his time between Navarre Beach, Florida and Rydal, Georgia. His most cherished role was husband, father, brother, friend, debate coach and Opa. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Arthur Mitchell and mother, Emilie Juanita Mitchell, and sister, Linda Mitchell Tuminella. He is survived by his bride of almost 40 years, Cathy Lynn Mitchell. Also, by two daughters, Kristin Mitchell Winjum and Ashley Mitchell Stieger and son-in-law, Roddy Stieger. Frank and Cathy have three grandchildren, Keeley, Lucas and Cameron. He is also survived by two sisters, Pam Mitchell Gunter and Martha Mitchell Zoller, their families as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday August 9, 2014 at 12 Noon in the chapel of Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Pine Ridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends following the service at a reception at the Pine Ridge Events Center. In lieu on flowers, please make a donation to Children Health Care of Atlanta at www.choa.org.

 

Edited August 8, 2014 by Roadkingcoupe

[desoto1939]

I had met Frank several time over the course of 25 years.  When i was the chairman for the 13th NAtional Desoto Convention I approached him while at the Hershey Fall swap meet and I discussed if he could provide the Convention with some form of Donation.  He immediatley gave me a $100 gift certificate to we could use as a raffle item.

 

We all know of people that might have had issues with Frank when he was running the business he but overall he tried to help when ever he could to promote the hobby and to gett he old MoPAr cars and trucks on the road.

 

I know he sold the business awhile back to another owner.  May you rest in pease Frank and hope you get to enjoy some time in heaven with an old car.

 

Rich HArtung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[Tom Skinner]

I was under the impression that Frank still worked there. I bought a 1948 Chrysler Royal Window Handle from them at frmmpr (ebay) Tuesday and The Ebay contact stated:

with their phone number " ask for Frank or Mike?" if there where any questions about the listing. I received my Window Handle today (this afternoon). 

On a side story, I once emailed Frank with a question about making an offer on a part (I felt was overpriced), he sent back a reply:

"Yes, I will accept an offer - but be gentle about it". So in the end Frank will be remembered by me as a Good Honest Mopar Man, willing to make a deal and

on another note, his parts were always NOS or Original and always in Top Condition - to my knowledge he didn't sell second rate stuff.

Rest in Peace Frank Mitchell.

Tom Skinner

Huntersville, NC

[Dodgeb4ya]

One of my friends just talked to Frank last week and agreed on a parts trade. OH OH!

 

I purchased a NOS M5/6 input shaft from him 4 months ago for a customer job and when I got it it was rusty and not usable. I called him and he sent another NOS as pictured in his Ebay ad.

I felt at that time something was wrong with him. He sounded different.

Frank knew his MoPar parts and got top $ for them. He was one of the top dogs on NOS quality MoPar parts!

Will miss him. Another one down.

[T120]

Also bought parts from Frank in the past - sad to hear he's no longer with us...

[Gary Roberts]

Very sad to read this, I met Frank when I was a little boy at Hershey in the 1970's.  He did business with my parents for decades and I enjoyed speaking with him when I got the chance.   Frank had an irreplaceable level of knowledge that helped countless people in the hobby , I will miss him.

Gary Roberts Jr.

[JD luxury liner]

Rest in peace . I also purchased first parts from him Sorry to here this.

[Dan Hiebert]

I had bought a few things over the years from Mitchell.  I dealt with Frank himself on the last go round when he had at the time what appeared to be the only sector shaft available in the country, and a steering shaft with worm gear that hadn't been "identified" yet - but he knew just what it was and let me buy it without the new guys putting it in inventory (I believe he had just sold his company, but was hanging around to either pass the time or ensure it did well - or both).  That compared to a few other "parts houses" that said they had what I needed, but then couldn't deliver but insisted I continue to deal with them.  Items I bought were NOS, some with some surface rust, but in pretty amazing shape for 60 year old parts that been in Georgia for a while.  Never had a problem with him, his kind are dwindling.