R. Mitchel Tyler

Ronald Mitchel Tyler, 81, of Columbus County, passed away on Friday, November 3, 2023, while in the Bradley Creek Health Center at Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall.

A native of Columbus County, Mitchel was born on July 31, 1942, son of the late Wattie Jackson Tyler and Emma Lewis Tyler. He was also preceded in death by his sister Juanita McKeel.

Mitchel was a graduate of Cerro Gordo High School and furthered his education at East Carolina University obtaining his Master of Arts degree along with his ED.S. (Education Specialist) degree. Mitchel’s lifelong passion was education and he rose to the level of Superintendent of Columbus County Schools when he was 37 years old. Mitchel continued his career with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh and later retired and returned to Columbus County. After retirement, Mitchel remained very active in the community and served in the District Court Judges office until 2015. He was also awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1999 by Governor James B. Hunt. Mitchel served on numerous boards and committees during his career and most recently chaired the Columbus County Economic Development Commission and was later named and Ex-Officio Member.

Mitchel was one of kind and loved many things including his Country, Columbus County, Lake Waccamaw, politics, his family and friends, his manicured yard, and probably most of all his El Camino!

Final rites will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at the Worthington Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Willard McPherson officiating.  Interment will follow in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery.

The surviving family includes his son, Mark Tyler (Leslie) of Wilmington; sister, Barbara T. Wilson (Kenny) of Cerro Gordo; grandchildren, Carrie D. Roberts (Jeremy) of Wilmington, Jackson R. Tyler (Kyley) of Charlotte; great-grandchildren, Baker, Louise, and Anna George Roberts; and many loving nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:45 PM on Tuesday, prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, in lieu of flowers.

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