- 11144 Warwick Boulevard • Newport News, VA 23601
- Follow Us
Obituaries
Walter J. Mitchell, Jr.
Walter J. Mitchell, Jr., 95, passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 6, 1926, in Powhatan, Virginia. W.J. was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War and retired from the Army Reserves as a Command Sergeant Major after 42 years of active and reserve duty. During WWII, he served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper and was Commander of the 153 Military Police Unit on the Peninsula. He was Chief Maintenance Officer at Fort Eustis in the Aircraft Maintenance Department. After retirement from Civil Service, he worked for Northrop Corporation until 1993, and lastly, he worked for Peninsula Funeral Home until 2016.
W.J. was an active member of Temple Baptist Church for over 50 years where he served as a deacon and trustee. He was a member of Masonic Lodge #336 for over 60 years, a member of the Hampton Roads 82nd Airborne Chapter, and also American Legion Post 31. W.J. was an avid hunter and baseball fan. He loved doing things with his family and loved to travel. Next to his faith, his family was the most important thing to him.
W.J. was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, June Vermillera Mitchell, his parents, Walter and Grace Mitchell, his brothers, Irvin, Buddy, and Marvin Mitchell, and his sister, Mary Scarlett. He is survived by his daughter, Terri M. Taylor (John) of Newport News; son, Mark Mitchell (Audrey) of Minneola, FL; grandson Nicholas Taylor (Erica) of Newport News; granddaughter, Jacqueline Mitchell of Tampa, FL; great-granddaughter, Berkeley Taylor of Newport News; sister, Nancy W. Wynne (Bill) of Middletown, MD; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their love and gratitude to Linda F. Brown for the wonderful care she took of Dad (Pops).
The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 3 from 3-5:00 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home. The CDC highly recommends masks for inside gatherings. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Wes Taylor, followed by interment at Peninsula Memorial Park with full military honors.
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.
2 Comments
I am very sorry to hear about WJ. My Grandfather-Bobby Condrey- was his Uncle.
My Grandmother died after My Mom(Hazel) was born. Aunt Grace and Walter took her and her twin in for a couple years.
We reconnected years ago because my wife and June were in ESA Sorority together.
Ironically the ESA Ladies were in a Statewide Meeting over the weekend.
But we did not find out until late this afternoon.
Nancy might remember me,but it has been a few years.
My cousin Walter , a great man, his grandmother Mary Ellen Stewart was my grandfather Dr Joseph Stewart ‘s sister . The Stewarts were from Stokes County North Carolina