Commander U.S. Navy

Dr. J Weir Mitchell, a resident of Alamogordo since 2008, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of over 67 years, Frances Maxine Mitchell; his daughter Francine Mitchell Heckert and son-in-law Jim Heckert, of Alamogordo; his son Alan and daughter-in-law Jacque Mitchell, of Tallahassee, Fla.; his three grandsons, Dr. Reed Mitchell Heckert and wife, Joanna, of Bethesda, Md., Alan Drew Heckert and wife, Becca, of Evansville, Ind., and Ensign Jay Robert Heckert, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; four great-granddaughters and one great-grandson.
J was born Aug. 18, 1921, in Mooresville, Ind., to Dr. R.E. Mitchell and Mabel Barnett Mitchell. He grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1945 and was immediately taken into the U.S. Navy. He was released from duty in 1946 and practiced dentistry in Rochester, Ind., until 1952 when he was called back into the Dental Corps to serve in France for 18 months. He served in the Navy until 1965 when he retired as a commander. He then practiced dentistry in Tallahassee, Fla., for 27 years and then taught dental hygiene at Tallahassee Community College for 12 years, retiring in 1991 to enjoy life in Sebring, Fla.
J enjoyed many hobbies including sailing and golf. He always found humor in most circumstances. He was an Eagle Scout and served as a Scout leader. He also served as president of the Florida Association of Periodontists and president of the Kiwanis Club in Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital Foundation at 2669 N. Scenic Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310.
Published in Alamogordo Daily News from Apr. 25 to May 25, 2011