Charlene M. Mitchell's Obituary
MITCHELL, Charlene M., age 85, of Xenia, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Kettering Hospital.
Charlene graduated from Patterson Co-op High School. She worked at Greenwald's Greenhouse in Dayton early in her career and even provided flower arrangements for friends and family's events long after she changed professions. For more than 25 years, she worked as an office clerk in public education, retiring from Stiver's School for the Arts in 2006.
She was a lifetime member, former clerk, and Sunday School teacher at the Fairview Primitive Baptist Church in Bellbrook. Known as "Grandma Charlene" by the kids of the church and "Miss Charlene" by the adults, she was known to be nurturing to children, especially to the new babies introduced to the congregation by church families. Charlene was active in the Kettering Senior Center, where she participated in Yoga twice a week for many years. She was also an active sponsor of the Seedling Foundation at Stivers School for the Arts and a supporter of the Patterson Co-op Foundation.
Caring, compassionate, and loving, Charlene greatly enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, church activities, and sewing. She loved animals and had a special place in her heart for the beloved dogs and horses she raised and cared for. She rode and cared for horses for many years, even showing them in competitions. Charlene won numerous ribbons and trophies during dressage events, which she has cherished throughout her life. Along with her husband, they purchased a beautiful rustic cabin with land in Virginia, and it became a tradition to travel down and work on the cabin. They bought it at an auction, and it became her husband's dream, but Charlene's passion was to create a get-away cabin for them to spend time in. For nearly 15 years, they labored over creating the perfect cabin to enjoy, which ultimately became more about the journey than the destination regarding the finished product. Among many things, Charlene will be remembered for her love of animals, especially her favorite dog, Sadie, and her love of collecting tea and saucer sets.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Armin Mitchell, in 2002; one son, Eric Wayne Mitchell, in 2005; her parents, William Cleveland and Clara Ann Slagle; and her brother, William Castor Slagle. She is survived by her son Kenneth Cleveland (Katherine) Mitchell; five grandchildren, Bessie, Larry, Lisa, K.C., and Lance; several great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild on the way.
The family will receive friends 5 - 8 PM Monday, May 20, at Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 21, at Fairview Primitive Baptist Church in Bellbrook, with burial on the church grounds immediately following the funeral service. Pastor Joseph Robinette will be officiating the services. If desired, contributions may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation of Dayton. Condolences at www.connerandkoch.com.
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