Kenneth Wendell Mitchell's Obituary
Kenneth Wendell Mitchell was born in Moran, Kansas on August 15, 1921, the son of Dee Daniel and Sunshine Adalaide Smith Mitchell. The family moved to Chanute in the 1920s where Kenneth attended school. He joined the US Army Air Corps in 1942 and was trained as a pilot. During World War II, he was a bomber pilot in the European Theater, 9th Air Force, 391st Bomber Group, and advanced to the rank of Captain. He received the Distinguishing Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. After World War II, Kenneth owned and operated Mitchell Buick with his father. Kenneth married Mildred Pauline (Polly) Monk on November 17, 1946 in Chanute, Kansas. She passed away on July 2, 1991.
Kenneth was an honoree on the Eisenhower Foundation World War II Honor Roll. He was a member of VFW Post 1654 and the 391st Bomber Group Association, and past commander of the American Legion Post 170. He was also a long time board member of the Chanute Public Library.
Kenneth is survived by three children, Patricia Mitchell of El Dorado, Gregory and wife Carol of Emporia, and Dan and wife Sabrina of Chanute; five grandchildren, Beth Farthing of Dickson, Tennessee, Luke Mitchell of Omaha, Nebraska, Holly Pobolish of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Amy Luft of Olathe, Kansas, and Stefani Nickell of Nevada, Iowa. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 16, 2014 from 6-7 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home Johnson Chapel, 101 N. Highlandt, Chanute, KS.
Graveside Services will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute, KS. Family suggests memorials to the ALS Association (Lou Gehrig Disease) and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home.
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