Graveside service with full military honors for SSG (Retired) James E. Mitchell will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2019 at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin with Rev. Steve Mallow, Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

SSG (Retired) James E. Mitchell, 90, Geronimo, Oklahoma passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2019 in Lawton. He was born November 8, 1929 in Portsmouth, Ohio to Glenn Albert and Bertha (Altman) Mitchell. He married Anneliese Zoefert on May 31, 1964 in Landshut, Germany. She passed away on March 9, 2004.

James enlisted in the United States Army on March 8, 1948 in Ashland, Kentucky. While in the military James' main specialty was as a truck vehicle mechanic. He served three tours of service in Vietnam and earned the following awards, the Good Conduct Medal 1 ^st – 4 ^th Awards, Driver Badge with Mechanics Bar, Army Occupational Medal (Germany), the Bronze Star Medal, three Overseas Bars, Valorous Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Second Class Gunner and the Sharpshooter Badge w/Bar M-16. One of his most notable noncombat duties was to walk along President John F. Kennedy's motorcade vehicle during a parade one time in the northeastern United States. James retired from the United States Army on January 31, 1973 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

James loved fishing and hunting and woodworking in his shop at home. He enjoyed time with his family especially when his wife Anneliese was still living. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his four children, Lisa Benson of Geronimo, Oklahoma, Patricia Dow of Lawton, Oklahoma, Glenn Mitchell and wife Laura of Manvell, Texas, and Sandy Tibbs of Columbus, Ohio, two grandchildren, Tara Gibson and Dillon Mitchell, one great grandchild, Emma Gibson, and other family members.

James was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and sister, Eileen Vaughan.