Mitchell Lee Waters a retired Assembly of God Minister passed away Thursday, September 19, 2013 surrounded by those he loved at his home in Hood River. Mitchell was born September 17, 1926 in Van Buren, Arkansas to John and Josephine (Warren) Waters and was 87 years of age.
When Mitchell was 3 mos. old their family began to progress toward the West with stops in Oklahoma, Arizona and finally settling into Tulare, Calif. where they remained.
After attending the schools in Tulare, Mitchell left from Tulare Union High School to join the Merchant Marines at age 16 and progressed to the Army at 18 years old; where war was in full combat. He was assigned to a troop transport ship, transporting troops in and out of war zones. While he was in a trip to the Zone the war was declared ended and was placed in the Philippine Islands to mop up there. He was assigned to the Military Police there where he remained until his discharge in Camp Beal California.
In 1948 he was married to Wanda Bryan. They moved around quite a bit from Tulare and Los Angeles. The family returned to Tulare where he worked in his father’s grocery store. They finally opened and operated a service station in Lindsay, California where he first was called into Ministry. He answered the call and fulfilled that calling for the rest of his life. First they evangelized from California to Alaska then settling in to Hood River; paying his way by working, fishing and evangelizing all the way. In around 1975 he purchased his father’s store and established a very successful fishing tackle business. He spoke two languages; fishing & gospel! About 1989 he was asked to Pastor the Woodville, California Assembly of God where they spent 11 fulfilling years before resigning in 2001. The tackle business was sold in 2007 by then he was disabled returning to Hood River to be near his daughter. Mitchell was a dedicated Assembly of God Minister for about 25 years.
Mitchell enjoyed fishing, making tackle, teaching a radio fishing program and gardening with his wife Wanda.
The family describes Mitchell as focused on his service to God and his community, a Bible Scholar, loyal to God and his family and a good father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Mitchell is survived and will be dearly missed by his spouse Wanda of 65 years, son Mitchell (Mike) Waters Jr.. and spouse Anna of Porterville, CA, daughter Jan Lee and spouse Randal of Hood River, Oregon, nine grandchildren Mitchell III, Becky, Heather, chad, Michelle, Shannon, Shane, Randy Jr. and Quincy, seventeen great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his two sisters and five brothers.
Memorials are encouraged to be made in Mitchell’s name to Hearts of Gold 600 E Port Marina Dr Hood River, OR 97031 · (541) 387-0207 and or Hospice of the Gorge 1630 Woods Court Hood River, Oregon 97031.
 
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.

Please visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence