Mitchell Daniels, Sr.

Honorable, patriotic, respectable, gentle, kind, and a family man are only a few words that describe Mitchell E. Daniels, Sr.. He was a trustworthy father, faithful and loving husband and outstanding friend. Involved in his church and his community, Mitch gave his all to make the world a better place. The year was 1923 and the United States was in a time of great change. World War I had ended and the “Roaring Twenties” had begun. As cities boomed with the sounds of industry, small towns softly hummed with the sounds of citizens working and supporting their families. Elias, (known as "Louie") and Afifi (Hannah) Daniels, recent émigrés to the U.S. from Syria, lived in a small town, Monessen, along the Monongahela River in southwestern Pennsylvania. Monessen was a community with a strong ethnic heritage, with many families having a Middle Eastern background. The Daniels made their home in this close-knit community. Louie and Afifi were blessed on February 8, 1923 with the birth of their son, Mitchell. Afifi died when Mitchell was very young and the task of raising two boys - Mitchell and his younger brother, Russell – fell to Louie. His days were filled with caring for the boys and operating a small restaurant he owned in Monessen. He set a good example for his sons, instilling in them a strong work ethic and love of their country. After graduating from Monessen High School, Mitchell (by now known to his friends as “Mitch”) enrolled at Allegheny College, graduating in 1944. He enlisted in the Army Medical Corps during World War II, and although he never went overseas, he was proud of his service to his country. Mitch then attended Temple University to do post-graduate work. While a student there, he went on a blind date with Dorothy Wilkes, a nursing student. Dorothy (known to her friends as “Dottie”) was an effervescent redhead from Monongahela, a neighboring town of Monessen. Over the next few years, as the two dated, love blossomed, and the couple was married in 1948. They stayed in Pennsylvania for a while and soon welcomed the birth of their son, Mitch Jr. in 1949. Mitch, Sr. was working in sales for Pitman-Moore Pharmaceuticals, and job promotions meant the family lived in various cities over the years. While living in Atlanta, Georgia, daughter Deborah was born. They also lived for a time in Bristol, Tennessee. Although Mitch’s job required him to travel, he always made it home on Wednesday nights for the weekly church supper and choir rehearsal. He and Dottie formed friendships in both Bristol and Atlanta that lasted the rest of their lives.

In 1958, Mitch and Dottie moved their young family to Indianapolis and settled on the north side of the city. Mitch Jr. and Deborah attended North Central High School and Mitch continued working for Pitman-Moore, and then the Dow Chemical Company following its acquisition of Pitman-Moore, in sales management, technology transfer and international licensing. With Mitch busy at work, most of the child care responsibilities fell to Dottie, but Saturday night was “family night”, and Mitch always found time for family trips. These included frequent travels back to Pennsylvania to visit extended family, with the family singing along in the car. Both Deborah and Mitch, Jr. have fond memories of Mitch playing math games with Mitch, Jr. and spelling and word games with Deborah. When Deborah spent a junior semester of college abroad, Mitch and Dottie had the opportunity to travel to Europe and to visit with her while there, a trip that left everyone with wonderful memories. Both children remember fondly the Parents Weekend trips to Princeton, where Mitch, Jr. received his undergraduate degree, and DePauw, where Deborah received hers. After the children were grown, Thanksgiving and Christmas remained important family holidays, leading to many more happy memories. In 1988, Mitch retired from Dow as the Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for DowBrands, after over 38 years of service. Not one to just sit back after retirement, through his children, Mitch became involved in The Executive Service Corps, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting stability and prosperity in developing countries through private enterprise development. Mitch became heavily involved in the work of ESC. He also was a founder of the Japan-America Society of Indiana, and served as its first executive director. In more recent years, he and Dottie were able to spend the winter months in Bonita Springs, Florida, a place they both dearly loved and where they formed additional strong friendships. Each year, Mitch eagerly looked forward to the annual trip to the south. In 1998, Deborah and Mitch, Jr. threw their parents a surprise 50th anniversary party. Mitch and Dottie had a wonderful time with family and many friends. Both liked the music of the Big Band era, and loved to dance to “In The Mood”, “Moonlight Serenade”, and other classics. With his Middle Eastern heritage, Mitch loved ethnic foods. He often made tabbouli, and especially enjoyed Deborah’s recipe for hummus, made with chickpeas, oil, lemon juice and garlic. He had a delightful and engaging sense of humor, the strong work ethic and love of country taught him by his father, and a humble nature, all of which gifts he instilled in his children. It was always important to Mitch to be involved in the community, and involved he was. He was President of the American Marketing Association, a board member of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, a member of the Indianapolis Economic Club, on the Indiana Legal Foundation board of directors, the Service Club of Indianapolis and the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee. He particularly enjoyed serving on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Purdue School of Science. His dedication and commitment to community service earned him many awards, among them the Sagamore of the Wabash, given in 1988. This award is the highest honor bestowed on citizens of Indiana. In 1989 he received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from Indiana University and Purdue University and in 1990 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Purdue University. As he had all his life, Mitch also made time for his church and was a longtime member of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and as a member of the sanctuary choir. In 2001, Mitch’s beloved Dottie passed away. This was a very difficult time for Mitch, as the two had been together for 53 years. He never stopped loving and missing her, and his home was filled with pictures of her, his children and grandchildren. Mitchell E. Daniels, Sr., of Indianapolis, died August 5, 2004 at St. Vincent Hospital. His wife of 53 years, Dorothy “Dottie” (Wilkes) Daniels preceded him in death in April of 2001. Mitchell’s family includes his children, Mitch Daniels, Jr., Deborah Daniels Mannweiler; brother, Russell Daniels; grandchildren, Meagan Niese, Melissa Daniels, Meredith Daniels, and Margaret Daniels. Friends and family will gather on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel. Funeral services to celebrate his life will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday in Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may read Mr. Daniels' Life Story, share a personal memory, order flowers, or make memorial contributions to the church.