Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 3, 1990 TAG: 9005030362
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A native of Norfolk, Mitchell was a glider pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He enrolled at Virginia Tech after the war and received a bachelor of science degree in agronomy in 1952.
After graduation, he worked for a Norfolk fertilizer plant as a supervisor and as a field representative for Swift and Co. In 1957, he joined the Southwest Times in Pulaski as managing editor, a position he held until he joined the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service in 1959 as assistant extension editor.
In the late 1960s, Mitchell received a master's degree in entomology from Tech. His study on the quantitative survey of ectoparasites on starlings in Southwest Virginia was still being cited more than 20 years after its completion.
He earned a doctorate in extension administration at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. In the mid-'70s, he became director of the Extension Information Unit at Virginia Tech, a position he held until he retired on Dec. 31, 1981.
One of Mitchell's passions was trap shooting. He won several honors statewide, regionally and nationally, including the state championship in doubles and handicap competition.
He is survived by his wife, Leila Daniels Mitchell; a son, Robert Mark of Staunton; a daughter, Susan Anne Taylor of Staunton; and a grandson.
A memorial service will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Francis Anglican Catholic Church. .
by CNB