James Lester Mitchell, Jr.

James Lester Mitchell, Jr., T. Sgt. U.S. Airforce, Ret.

James L. Mitchell of Crestview Florida passed away Sunday 13 October 2024 at the age of 91.  He was born in Houston, Texas on 1 August 1933.  The first child of James Lester and Leona Stockholm Mitchell, they moved shortly after his birth to Kountze, TX and resided thereafter in the surrounding locals of Beaumont and Houston.

He enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict in 1953.  He was assigned to the Strategic Air Command as a munitions specialist, conducted additional training as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist and ultimately serving as an Explosives Ordinance Disposal Technician after graduating the U.S. Navy EOD School at Indian Head, MD.

Following training, Jim was assigned to multiple overseas tour of duties from Mildenhall/Lakenheath, UK; Sembach AB, Germany and Balikesir AB, Turkey.  It was during his first tour to the UK in 1964 that Jim met Iris and later married her on his second tour in 1966.  Upon retiring from military service in 1976, Jim and Iris moved to Crestview, Florida where James worked at Eglin AFB as a civilian contractor for the remainder of his career.

Together with his wife, they devoted themselves to providing the family with a peaceful and loving home.  James built and expanded the family residence, completing many additions and improvements.  Along with several cats, birds and rabbits they adopted German Shepherd dogs and were often seen taking long walks throughout the neighborhood.

Jim held a passion and keen knowledge of firearms and the engineering behind them.  As a sportsman in his early life with rifles, he later qualified as expert marksman in small arms for the Air Force and was an avid skeet & trap shooter while a member of the Alconbury Rod & Gun club in the UK.  He maintained his hobby with a lifetime membership with the NRA and regular participation target shooting at the Shoal River gun club, developing and chrono graphing his own ammunition reloads.  He shared his enthusiasm for model rocketry with his sons; greatly influencing them to pursue aerospace related engineering careers.

Having lived a long life, James was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years Iris Hodgskins Mitchell, sister Maureen and brother John D. Mitchell along with many close friends.  He is survived by brothers Robert E. and Thomas O. Mitchell, sons Steven D.  and Keith W. and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and family friends.

A Funerary gathering will be held at Whitehurst Powell Chapel on 29 Oct. 0900 to 1100.  He will be transported and inurned with his wife at Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors at 1430.

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview. Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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