Charles Mitchell, 86, dies

Email To A Friend
Printer Friendly
Comments

---

The partnership between CPAs Charles Mitchell and Don Giles lasted more than 40 years and Giles said there was never a cross word between them.

"Few if any partnerships can get by with that," Giles said. "I think it was the best partnership a person could have. He was my best friend."

Mitchell, 86, died Sunday from pneumonia. He founded the Charles T. Mitchell CPA firm in Frankfort in 1951 and Giles said it could last another 57 years.

"I hope we laid the ground work to keep it around," Giles said.

The firm was the first CPA in Frankfort and began with just Mitchell and Jean, his wife of 63 years, as his secretary. Now, the firm has approximately 40 employees including more than a dozen accountants.

The City of Frankfort was Mitchell's first account but his clients later included the Frankfort Plant Board, the Kentucky Employees Retirement Systems and various contracts with the state.

Giles described Mitchell as respected and well liked by everyone.

"I don't think I ever heard a bad remark about Charles T. Mitchell," Giles said.
They enjoyed playing cards and reminiscing together, Giles said.

"I'm going to miss him terribly," he said.

Mitchell went into semi-retirement about 10 years ago and also suffered from the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in recent years. Giles took over as managing partner and later gave the reins to William G. Johnson when he also retired.

Scott Mitchell said his father loved to work even though he was semi-retired.

"He loved going up to the office," Scott said. "He never really retired. He went to the office every day until about three years ago."

His father was born and raised in Frankfort and became passionate about math and business while studying at Good Shepherd School. Mitchell studied business at the University of Kentucky after serving in the Army during World War II.

Mitchell returned to Frankfort to start his business because he loved the city, Scott said. His father was also involved in a number of civic and community groups.

His family was the only thing that Mitchell was more proud of than his business, Scott said. He met his wife on a blind date while stationed at Ft. Dix in New Jersey.
"He was a great father and husband," Scott said.