Lawrence W. ''Mitch'' Mitchell

Lawrence Willis ‘Mitch” Mitchell, 72, of Fairview and Holiday, FL, died Saturday, April 27, 2002, at his home at 127 Ballard Creek Road, Fairview. Mr. Mitchell was born in Greensboro and was a son of the late Lawrence H. and Birch Patterson Mitchell. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Gary and Michael Mitchell. He served in the Navy Reserve during WW II and was activated for a tour of duty in Turkey in 1947. After returning from service, he was honored as a hero for helping save patients and employees from the devasting 1947 fire at Highland Hospital in Asheville. In 1962 he founded Mitch Contracting and in 1972 he and his wife took over operation of Crouch Housemoving company and they operated it as Crouch-Mitch House Moving. In 1985 they moved the Richmond Hill House and received a national award for moving the heaviest structure in the United States. They were also affiliated with the relocation of the Belk home in Charlotte in preparation for expansion of the Charlotte Presbyterian Hospital. He was a member of the International Association of Movers, the NC Association of House Movers and Reed Memorial Baptist Church. He was also a member of American Legion Post 1981 and the VFW Post 891. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Betty Crouch Mitchell; one son, Emory Mitchell, Sr. of Fairview; six grandchildren, Leslie Lancaster of Hendersonville, Lisa Cabe, Emory Mitchell, Jr., Dennis Mitchell, and Morgan Mitchell of Fairview, and Tracy Mitchell of Leicester; four great-grandchildren, Kaylin, Amberle, Alex and Kayce; three sisters, Virginia Arthur and Doris Moody of Asheville and Margaret Clark of Leicester; one brother, C.D. Mitchell of Fairview; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. G.E. Crouch, Jr. and Dr. Marie Francois Crouch. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Tuesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Revs. Ray Woodby and John Thomas officiating. Burial will be at Green Hills Cemetery. His family will receive friends from 7 - 8:30 pm Monday at the funeral home and request that memorials be made to the Cane Creek Cemetery Fund, PO Box 162, Fairview, NC 28730.