Harry owned and operated Curley's Tavern, East Moline, for 29 years. After that, he was a forest ranger for Rock Island County. He was a caretaker at Illiniwek and Dorrance parks for 13 years. He retired in 1967. He was born Nov. 11, 1924, in Moline, to Earl and Josephine (Forret) Mitton. He married Jean Lindstrum on Aug. 6, 1949, in East Moline. While serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in action. He also was awarded the Air Medal and Three Clusters for outstanding performance and achievement against the enemy in aerial combat.
Mr. Mitton was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and Coe-Lamb American Legion Post 421, was a life member of the Illinois Beverage Association, had been a member of the Rock Island County Fair Board, was a 4-H leader and had been a Coe Township trustee. He also was a member of the 463rd Bomber Squadron Group. He was a Riverdale schools sports fan, enjoyed having morning coffee with his many friends and especially enjoyed his family. A memorial fund has been established. Survivors include his wife, Jean; a daughter, Karen Allison, Providence, Utah; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard K. and Diana, Hillsdale, Robert and Mona, Orion, and William and Vonnie, Port Byron; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law, Richard E. and Kathy Mitton, Hillsdale. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan.