OBITUARY
Name: Robert Eugene Mitchell
From: The Times-Leader,
McLeansboro, Illinois
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Robert
“Gene” Mitchell, 76, Enfield, died Thursday morning, Feb. 28, 2008, at
Harrisburg Medical Center, surrounded by family.
Gene was born July 5, 1931, in Enfield, the son of Leo and Cora (Biggerstaff)
Mitchell. He married Virginia Petry on Feb. 14, 1952, at St. Mary’s Catholic
Church in Mount Carmel.
As a child, he attended Metcalf School. He was a lifetime farmer and worked 27
years at Hamilton Memorial Hospital.
He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where he was a Fourth
Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and helped with Pre-Cana.
He was also a past director of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation
District and spent 32 years working with the Farm Service Agency.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Virginia. They have eight surviving
children and their spouses, Steve of Enfield, Jane and Mike Steed of Bluford,
Dan and Julie of Wadesville, Ind., Tony and Teresa of McLeansboro, Nancy and
Steve Thomas of Springerton, Clara and Dean Vaughn of St. Jacob, Chris and Cathy
of Enfield and Greg and Laura of Noblesville, Ind.; 16 grandchildren, Holly
Braddock, Ryan Steed, Ashley Roberts, Alecia Mahan, Eric and Kelci Thomas, Jason
and Chad Vaughn, and Lindsey, Travis, Christa, Matthew, Nicholas, Alex, Kyle and
Jessica Mitchell; and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters
and a brother-in-law, Helena Luster and Mary Jo and Delbert York; a brother and
sister-in-law, Bernie and Marie Mitchell; two sisters-in-law, Agnes Mitchell and
Ruth Mitchell; and a brother-in-law, Tom Hannigan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Cora; sisters Gertrude and Ann;
brothers Paul, Wilford “Mitch” and John; and a daughter, Yvonne.
Funeral Mass was held March 3 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Enfield, with
burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the
Knights of Columbus, St. Isadore Council and the American Cancer Society.