Wayne Max Mitchell (88) of Townsend, passed away from Covid-related pneumonia at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls on September 27, 2021. Wayne was born 5 April 1933 to Howard Wade Mitchell and Charlotte Lucille Tout in Moscow, Latah, Idaho. Shortly after, the family (parents, grandmother [Olive Rebecca Doane Mitchell], and a brother [Douglas] moved to Alder, Pierce, Washington, where they lived in a log cabin at the foot of Mount Rainer.
As a young boy, Wayne’s Grandmother Olive was his joy! She taught him about God and Jesus Christ. She taught him to cook using wild herbs and greens. She taught him how to work and save money. Together, they would go up the mountain and gather ferns to sell to the local mortuary, cut cascara bark to sell to the local pharmacy, and pick wild blackberries to sell to restaurants. She would allow him some money to spend and some money to put in the bank.
In December 1951, Wayne dropped out of high school and joined the United States Air Force. He first served at Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas before being shipped off to the Korean War as a member of the 15th TAC Recon Squadron. Although the records are missing because of the 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire in St. Louis, Wayne’s plane was shot down by the enemy. All 50 litter patients were killed. Only the pilot and Wayne survived. He spent many months in a hospital in Japan recovering from the crash. After he returned home to Washington, Wayne remained in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1956 to 1964. He was a Staff Sergeant.
On 23 March 1957, Wayne married Kathleen Marie LaFever in Longview, Cowlitz, Washington. They had seven babies who either died at birth, during birth, were stillborn, or who died shortly after birth. Then on 23 August 1961, a daughter, Deborah Kay Mitchell was born. In 1963, Wayne and Kathleen adopted a baby boy whom they name Bradley Wayne Mitchell and who shared a birthday with his sister.
Wayne worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington from 1967 to 1994 where he was a supervisor in electrical research and development. He earned an Associate of Arts in computer science from Everett Community College in Everett, Washington in 1973.
Wayne and Rebecca Kelch were married in Richmond, Virginia 12 October 2002. After Rebecca retired from Dominion Virginia Power in March 2005, they first moved to her childhood home in rural Derby, Kansas, and then moved to Townsend, Montana where they have lived since.
Wayne was so proud and honored that he was able to be a part of the Patriot’s Day Celebration here in Townsend on September 11. Although blind since 2013, Wayne enjoyed riding in the car and listening to the patriotic music. He was also proud of the fact that his 3rd great grandfather, Philip Mitchell, fought in the Revolutionary War. Wayne always believed that “we must not forget the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
Wayne was pre-deceased by his grandmother, parents, his first wife, Kathy, and his daughter, Deborah Kay who died 6 September 2003 in Bellingham, Washington.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Becky, of the home; his son, Bradley, and four grandchildren (Benjamin Eastman, Spencer Eastman, Alisha Mitchell, and Adam Wilkerson) all of Washington. Additional survivors include his brother, Doug Mitchell of Vista, California and his sister, Jan Luze, of Gig Harbor, Washington. He is also survived by 12 nieces and nephews, and nine great grandchildren.
A cemetery service with full military rites was held at Deep Creek Cemetery just outside of Townsend on Wednesday, October 6 at 10:30 in the morning.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
10:30 a.m.
Wednesday October 6, 2021
Deep Creek Cemetery
Townsedn, Montana 59644
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
10:30 a.m.
Wednesday October 6, 2021
Deep Creek Cemetery
Townsedn, Montana 59644
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