Richard Leon Mitchell, 71, of Noble, died at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2007, at his residence in Noble.  Funeral services in the chapel of Stasi-Grove Funeral Home in Olney with Brother Ron Shreve officiating. Full military honors will be provided by the Color Guard from the Lawrenceville National Guard Unit and VFW Albion Post 8. Burial in Haven Hill Cemetery in Olney.

Mr. Mitchell was born December 16, 1935, in Olney, the son of Don and Constance (Richards) Mitchell. He married Loretta Jones on August 13, 1956, in Olney. She survives.

He was a Vietnam veteran and retired from the U.S. Air Force on January 1, 1974. He joined the U.S. Army in August 1953 and served for three years. He later joined the U.S. Air Force and retired after 20 years of active service to his country. After leaving the military, he went to work for Kraft Foods. He worked there for seven years. He spent the next 17 years at Champion Laboratories in West Salem where he later retired.  He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife of 50 years, Loretta, of Noble; sons, Richard L. Mitchell Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, of Mt. Carmel, Gerry W. Mitchell, of West Salem, Phillip S. Mitchell and his wife, Yvonne, of Noble, Robin K. Mitchell, of Albion, and Troy P. Mitchell and his wife, Jackie, of Sidney; daughters, Angela K. Mitchell, of Indianapolis, and Julie J. Henshaw and her husband, William, of Indianapolis; half-brothers, Carl Mitchell and his wife, Kathy, of St. Charles, and Don Wayne Mitchell and his wife, Dorthea, of Chicago; half-sister, Terry Nueman, of Homestead, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Constance Mitchell; stepmother, Barbara (Ganger) Mitchell; granddaughter, Summer Jo Mitchell; and daughter-in-law, Paula Mitchell.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)