Ronald Burdette Mitchell

ron mirhelRonald Burdette Mitchell, M.D.

Dr. Ronald B. Mitchell, age 91, passed away after a brief illness on December 27, 2017. At his death, he was surrounded by members of his family. 

Born in Findlay, Ohio on July 17, 1926, he was the son of the late Ralph and Ethel Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell attended Leipsic High School, graduating in the Class of 1944. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy‘s V-12 program at Oberlin College. He was transferred first to Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning, nee Southwestern Louisiana State University and then to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Following World War II Dr. Mitchell earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Tulane. When he graduated from medical school he went back into the Navy Medical Corps for the duration of the Korean Conflict and remained in the active Naval Reserve until retiring over two decades later as a full Commander. Dr. Mitchell practiced private medicine in Akron, Ohio as an Obstetrician Gynecologist for 33 years. He served as the Chief of Staff of the SUMMA Akron City Hospital, taught at the Northeast Ohio Medical University for ten years and was the Clerical Director of the SUMMA OB GYN Administrative Staff. He was a longtime member of Akron’s Christ United Methodist Church, the Akron OB GYN Society, the American OB GYN Society, the Reserve Officer’s Association, the National Genealogical Society and the Akron Genealogical Society.

Dr. Mitchell was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Patricia Joan Mitchell and his daughter, Deborah Lee Ciraldo. He is survived by three sons and their wives, Robert B. and Lois Mitchell of Stratford, Connecticut, Dr. Thomas W. and Ginger Mitchell of Findlay, Ohio and James R. and Cathy Mitchell of Hartville, Ohio. Dr. Mitchell is also survived by his son-in-law, Dr. Alfred Ciraldo; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Relatives and friends may greet the family at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron, OH 44333 from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, January 7, 2018. Interment will take place at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Rd., Seville, OH 44273 at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2018; with a memorial service to follow at 11:30 a.m. Monday, January 8th at Christ Woodland United Methodist Church, 444 N. Hawkins Ave., Akron, OH 44313. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Dr. Mitchell’s memory to the Lakeside Heritage Society, Inc., 324 W. Third St., Lakeside, OH 43440. (Please note the contribution to Dr. Mitchell’s Memory on the memo line of the check). To share a Memory, Send a Condolence, or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)