Mitchell Cash

 

Mitch & Muriel

Mitch & Muriel

Mitchell Cash, 92, of Pensacola and, most recently, Bothell, WA, died April 10, 2011. Born August 19, 1918 in Gary, Indiana, Mitch graduated from Horace Mann High School and later from Purdue University with a BS in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation in 1941 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on active duty until 1961 and in the reserves till 1978, retiring as Captain.

He received his master’s degree from the University of Alabama in 1970 while employed by NASA at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, where he worked on the lunar landing module and the space station design. Mitch had three loves in his life. He married Muriel Grace Smith in1941, and they had three children and 51 happy years together.

 

Mitch & Marie

His “Second Love” was his 26-foot sloop, which he sailed solo and with friends around Florida and the Caribbean. After Muriel passed away, he drifted for a few years until he met his third love, Helen Marie Gebhardt, on a tour of the “great trains of Europe.” They fell in love at first sight on the Orient Express and married a few months later in 1999. They had many travels around the world, including the Mediterranean, the Pacific, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Alaska, taking as many train rides as they could. Mitch had a truly adventurous spirit and was active in the Fort Walton Sail and Power Squadron, teaching navigation by the stars and sailing.

 

Mitch, Art & Web

He also belonged to the Masons, the Pensacola Military Officers Association, the American Legion, and the Sons of the American Revolution.

He is survived by his wife, Marie, and his daughters, Laura Mitchell of Vista, CA and Sarah Relfe of Birmingham, AL.  A son, Mitchell Cash, Jr., passed away in 2000. He is also survived by grandchildren Mitchell Relfe, Andrew Relfe, Christopher Kavanagh, Dess Aldredge Benedetto, Bradley Aldredge and Alexandra Park; by eight great-grandchildren; and by his brother, Arthur H. Cash of New York. A private service will be held in Kirkland, WA; followed by a full military honor ceremony at the Barancas National Cemetery, NAS, Pensacola on Monday, April 18, at 11:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the International Essential Tremor Foundation, http://www.essentialtremor.org/.

2 Responses to “Mitchell Cash”

  • Alexandra Park says:

    I am grateful for your legacy of love of adventure – and for your inspiration as a civil engineer. What a great life you had here on earth, so blessed to have had two wonderful partners. I look forward to one day comparing notes on travels and life in heaven. We will miss you Gramps!

  • Laura Mitchell says:

    Dad felt the most important things in his life, overall, were that he sired a great family, he contributed something to the world, and that he enjoyed life. He was a goal-setter and believed in planning ahead, and he mostly lived his life the “right” way. That was not to say he didn’t have fun! He took every opportunity to have an adventure, and he swept the rest of us away on those great times. He expected his children to be industrious, curious, and independent, and mostly we were because of his teachings. He was a wonderful dad, and I’ll miss him. Laura/ aka Lolly

Leave a Reply

Please be respectful. Disrespectful comments will not be published

When you have successfully submitted a comment, look in the space above to see your comment.

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

If you do not see your comment, click HERE