Obituary for Harry "Lee" Mitchell
Harry Lee Mitchell
September 15, 1927—April 23, 2022
Harry Lee Mitchell died peacefully at home on Saturday, April 23, 2022, as he was holding the hand of his bride of nearly 48 years, Anabelle. He left his earthly home in Oak Harbor to reside in the house of the Lord.
Lee was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 15, 1927, the son of Fred and Alice Mitchell. He attended Hughes High School. He, along with many in his class when Pearl Harbor was bombed, got up from class and went down and volunteered for military service. He had joined the Ohio National Guard at 16 years old. At 17, after a quick trip to Detroit to get his father’s signature, he joined the Navy and was sent to the Naval training station in Sampson, New York on January 22, 1945. He graduated on February 7, 1945. Lee was honorably discharged on July 29, 1946, at Great Falls, Illinois, where he was awarded the “Ruptured Duck” and reserve status.
Lee attended business college on the GI bill and was called to active duty again on February 6, 1951, during the Korean War, where he served on the USS Boxer in the South Pacific and China Sea. Lee was later sent to Moffet Field Naval Air Station and then discharged from active duty. Lee then joined the United States Air Force in Youngstown, Ohio, as a staff sergeant in the accounting field. He served on bases in Hokkaido and Toyko, Japan, and later at Seamore Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, followed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where he was an auditor-in-training. Lee served next at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Germany as an auditor for a four-year tour doing audits in Holland, Norway, Denmark, England, and Berlin. Lee then came back to the United States to serve at Paine Field, Vandenberg, and McChord Air Force Bases. Lee retired from military service on October 1, 1973, as one of 160 Internal Auditors in the Air Force as a TSGT Sergeant and with 30 years of military service, including 16 medals and 20 ribbons, having served in three wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Retirement was short as he then took a position as Internal Auditor for Snohomish County, a position he held for nine years before taking an early retirement at 55 years old.
Lee enjoyed panning for gold, and kept a gold mining pan in his car to do gold mining whenever possible. He also enjoyed fly fishing and tied his own flies. He was a “rock hound,” collecting interesting rocks and bringing them home for further study. He also had a “green thumb,” with a large garden and roses from starts he collected from family and friends. He could tell you which yard each came from. Though he was through traveling, his wife had other ideas. They traveled together to Germany and Denmark, took train trips across the United States, went to Arizona during the winter and to North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, during the fall. They also spent time fishing in Washington, North Dakota, and Canada. Lee even went with Anabelle on a cruise to Alaska, which he described as “under duress.”
Lee was a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, a Life Member of the VFW, and a member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church.
Lee is survived by his wife, Anabelle, of 48 years, daughters Barbara and Brenda and son Scott (Paula), 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, one grandchild, one great-grandchild, and his brother.
Blessed be his memory.
September 15, 1927—April 23, 2022
Harry Lee Mitchell died peacefully at home on Saturday, April 23, 2022, as he was holding the hand of his bride of nearly 48 years, Anabelle. He left his earthly home in Oak Harbor to reside in the house of the Lord.
Lee was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 15, 1927, the son of Fred and Alice Mitchell. He attended Hughes High School. He, along with many in his class when Pearl Harbor was bombed, got up from class and went down and volunteered for military service. He had joined the Ohio National Guard at 16 years old. At 17, after a quick trip to Detroit to get his father’s signature, he joined the Navy and was sent to the Naval training station in Sampson, New York on January 22, 1945. He graduated on February 7, 1945. Lee was honorably discharged on July 29, 1946, at Great Falls, Illinois, where he was awarded the “Ruptured Duck” and reserve status.
Lee attended business college on the GI bill and was called to active duty again on February 6, 1951, during the Korean War, where he served on the USS Boxer in the South Pacific and China Sea. Lee was later sent to Moffet Field Naval Air Station and then discharged from active duty. Lee then joined the United States Air Force in Youngstown, Ohio, as a staff sergeant in the accounting field. He served on bases in Hokkaido and Toyko, Japan, and later at Seamore Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, followed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where he was an auditor-in-training. Lee served next at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Germany as an auditor for a four-year tour doing audits in Holland, Norway, Denmark, England, and Berlin. Lee then came back to the United States to serve at Paine Field, Vandenberg, and McChord Air Force Bases. Lee retired from military service on October 1, 1973, as one of 160 Internal Auditors in the Air Force as a TSGT Sergeant and with 30 years of military service, including 16 medals and 20 ribbons, having served in three wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Retirement was short as he then took a position as Internal Auditor for Snohomish County, a position he held for nine years before taking an early retirement at 55 years old.
Lee enjoyed panning for gold, and kept a gold mining pan in his car to do gold mining whenever possible. He also enjoyed fly fishing and tied his own flies. He was a “rock hound,” collecting interesting rocks and bringing them home for further study. He also had a “green thumb,” with a large garden and roses from starts he collected from family and friends. He could tell you which yard each came from. Though he was through traveling, his wife had other ideas. They traveled together to Germany and Denmark, took train trips across the United States, went to Arizona during the winter and to North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, during the fall. They also spent time fishing in Washington, North Dakota, and Canada. Lee even went with Anabelle on a cruise to Alaska, which he described as “under duress.”
Lee was a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, a Life Member of the VFW, and a member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church.
Lee is survived by his wife, Anabelle, of 48 years, daughters Barbara and Brenda and son Scott (Paula), 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, one grandchild, one great-grandchild, and his brother.
Blessed be his memory.