Louie Ronald Mitchell 1920-1982

Louie Ronald Mitchell, of Hancock, was born on January 30, 1920 at Hancock, a son of Grover Cleveland and Mary Viola Roberts Mitchell, and departed this life at 11:24 a.m. on Wednesday morning, July 14, 1982 at the family residence in Hancock. Mr. Mitchell had been in failing health for the past two years and had attained the age of 62 years, 5 months and 15 days.

He was united in marriage on April 18, 1942 at St. Louis to the former Miss Velma Lorene Porter, and to this union two daughters were born.

He spent most of his working life in the teaching profession and started his career by teaching in numerous rural schools such as Brown, Burnett, and Hancock.

During World War II, he was engaged in active federal service in the Army of the United States from July 24, 1942 until November 2, 1945. As a Surgical
Technician Fourth Grade, he was awarded five Bronze Stars for his participation in battles or campaigns at Normandy, in Northern France, in Central Europe, the Ardennes and the Rhineland. He was entitled to wear the American Theatre Campaign, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, three Overseas Bars and the Good Conduct Medal. A man of excellent character, he was inducted into the Army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and gave honest and faithful service during his military career before he was honorably discharged at Jefferson Barracks Separation Center.

Following his return home from the Army, he resumed his teaching career at Mokane High School where he taught and coached basketball for two years. He was next employed at the Jonesburg High School for three years as a teacher and coach. He then came back to Pulaski County and taught at the Education Center, Fort Leonard Wood for the Department of the Army for twenty-one years.

He was a member of the Church of Christ in Dixon.

Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, July 17, 1982 at the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Chapel, Dixon, with Brother Charles L. Pitts, Church of Christ, Dixon, officiating. Internment was in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, Dixon.

Pallbearers were Warren Mitchell, Gary George, Maurice George, Steven Jones, Dan Reed, and Troy Porter.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Velma L. Mitchell of the home in Hancock; two daughters, Mrs. Beverly Murphy, Dixon, and Mrs. Brenda Smyth, Marshall, Arkansas; his step-mother, Mrs. Sylvia Mitchell, Hancock; one brother, Donald Mitchell, Hancock; three sisters, Mrs. Ruth George and Mrs. Betty Crews, both of Hancock, and Mrs. Joan Jones, Crocker; five grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Grover C. Mitchell on June 9, 1961 and by his mother, Mrs. Mary V. Mitchell on March 28, 1926.