Lloyd was born to Martha and Alfred “Al” Apel in Phoenix, Arizona. Lloyd and his Mother moved to Riverside, California when he was 5 years old. Lloyd grew up in Riverside and when Martha remarried he took the last name of his Step-father, Lewis F. Mitchell.
Lloyd attended elementary school, Junior High School and Riverside Polytechnic High School. Lloyd was one of four students among a graduating class of 400 to be awarded a lifetime membership to the California Scholarship Federation. Lloyd also played tennis for his High School, playing first singles during the last two years of his three year career. Lloyd also played in many tournaments and was the Junior Singles winner for the city of Riverside for three years. Lloyd then attended Riverside Community College, where he majored in Business Administration. Following his graduation, Lloyd was offered a position with the Riverside J.C. Penney store, starting in 1950.
In 1952, Lloyd temporarily left J.C. Penney to enlist in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He took basic training at Fort Ord, California and following the completion of his basic training, was selected to attend the Counter-Intelligence Corps (C.I.C.) School in Baltimore, Maryland, Following his graduation, he was assigned to Fort Winfield Scott in the Presidio in San Francisco, California. Later, he was assigned to the C.I.C. office in Los Angeles, followed by being the designated Resident Agent for the C.I.C. for San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Lloyd fulfilled his enlistment in this capacity, developing background investigations for Army members being considered for top-secret clearances as well as conducting liaison with the intelligence officers at the many military bases in the area. Also, prior to his separation from the military, he married Betty Marble. Lloyd and Betty had two children, Vicki Lee and Craig Lewis.
Lloyd then returned to his career with J.C. Penney, where he spent 41 years in Management, Lloyd always laughed that he had only worked for two companies, J.C. Penney and the U.S. Army. Lloyd opened new J.C. Penney stores in Barstow, California, Honolulu, Hawaii (in the Ala Moana Cemter…the first J.C. Penney store in Hawaii), Phoenix, Arizona, Whittier, California and worked (but did not open) in stores in San Bernardino, California, Burbank, California and Montebello, California.
While in Whittier, Lloyd and Betty divorced and Lloyd married Agnes (Aggie) Dowd. Soon after their marriage, Lloyd and Aggie were transferred to Salem, Oregon, where Lloyd finished his career and retired in 1991 after 41 years with J.C. Penney.
Lloyd and Aggie enjoyed 25 wonderful years of marriage, and celebrated their 25th with friends and family. Lloyd lost Aggie to cancer on January 31, 2008.
Lloyd is survived by his Daughter Vicki Lee of San Clemente, California and his Son Craig (Wife Maria, Daughter Rachel and Son Justin) of Fremont, California. Aggie’s Children are Daughter Debbie (Husband Robert and Daughter Katy) of Salem, Oregon, Daughter Susan (Husband Mark, Sons Michael and Matt) of Yorba Linda, California and Son Jeffrey (Wife Terry, Daughter Samantha) of Riverside, California.
There will be a Memorial Service Sunday, May 16 at 4:00 pm at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.