Dr. Calvin Harrison Mitchell

It is with sorrow that we, the family of Dr. Calvin H Mitchell, share his passing after a long illness on Friday, November 8, 2024, at the Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, North Carolina. 

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 33 years, Linda (Lin) Hough Mitchell, his daughters, LeAnne Mitchell Wentworth of Tallahassee, Florida and Linda Mitchell Kime of Farmington, Connecticut, his sons, Michael Mitchell of Cape Coral, Florida and Mark Mitchell (Julie) of Orlando, Florida, and his stepson, Chris Morton (Michelle) of Raleigh, North Carolina. “Papa C” was loved by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is pre-deceased by his father and mother, George and Eve Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, his special aunt, Marguerite Mitchell Maurici of Tampa, Florida, and JoAnne Chavis Mitchell, the mother of his children, of Tampa, Florida. 

He was born on July 20, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to George and Eve Mitchell. They moved to Tampa, Florida when Calvin was 3. 

Calvin excelled in school and received many honors in his studies. He graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1951, from the University of Florida in 1954, the Duke University School of Medicine in 1958, and completed a three-year Ophthalmology Residency Program in 1962 where his many achievements were recognized.

He spent more than 40 years practicing ophthalmology in his office, in the operating rooms of Tampa General, St. Joseph’s and Good Samaritan Hospitals, and through his teaching of ophthalmology residents.

Upon completion of his residency at Duke, he returned to Tampa, Florida and co-founded the Tampa Eye Clinic in 1962 with his close friend, Dr. Burns Creighton. In the following 23 years, the two Duke-trained ophthalmologists built the clinic into a thriving five-physician practice.

In 1967, Calvin was called to active duty in the Navy for 3-years during the Vietnam War, serving as Commander and Chief of Ophthalmology and Residency Training at the Bethesda Naval Hospital where he did what he loved most – teach! He ran the ophthalmology residency program and worked closely with ophthalmologists at the Wilmer Institute, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and Walter Reed. After his military obligation ended, he returned to the Tampa Clinic. 

He returned to Duke in 1985 and was an Ophthalmologist and Clinical Professor at the Duke University Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology Eye Center. He was also the Medical Director of the Contact Lens Clinic and served on the Duke Medical School Admissions Committee and was involved in many ongoing studies on the Duke Campus and at the VA Hospital. He was a clinician who was dedicated to the Duke Ophthalmology Residency Program and instrumental in training ophthalmologists. As a tribute to his contributions, the 2003 Residents and Fellows Day was named in his honor. He staffed residents at the VA for their cataract surgeries for many years. He retired in 2003. In retirement, he continued to practice at the Durham VA.

Calvin especially enjoyed boating, fishing, diving, skiing, fixing up ’68 Mustangs and eating dessert first at many fine restaurants! He and Lin enjoyed spending time and entertaining family and friends at their Key West, Florida home as well as restoring a 200-year-old cabin and farm that had belonged to Lin’s family in Siler City, NC. 

A visitation will be held at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home in Durham on Friday, November 15th from 6-8PM. A Funeral Service will be held at the same location on Saturday, November 16th at 11AM. All are welcome to attend. A graveside service and burial will be held on Saturday, November 16th at 3PM at the Brush Creek Baptist Church in Siler City. 

Donations may be made to the Duke Ophthalmology Residency Education Fund or to the Brush Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund (Judy Lane, 45 John Lane Rd, Bear Creek, NC 27207)