Robert LeRoy Mitchell, age 84, of 24638 Mitchell Lake Drive, Cambridge Springs went to be with his Lord November 15, 2022. Born January 8, 1938, on the family homestead north of Cambridge Springs, was the son of the late Clinton L. Mitchell and Marjorie Zilhaver Mitchell. After graduating from Cambridge Springs Area Junior Senior High School in 1955, he enlisted in the US Air Force on October 11, 1955. He was stationed at five state-side bases: basic training at Sampson Air Force Base, New York; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; and Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. He was also stationed at four overseas bases: Naha Air Base, Okinawa; Toul Rosieres Air Base, France; Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan; and Royal Air Force Sculthorpe, England. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He retired from the Air Force on October 31, 1975, as a Senior Master Sergeant. He graduated from the School of Modern Photography on July 10, 1970. Bob met his wife, Leanne Farnum, at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and they were married on September 7, 1963, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Detroit, Michigan.

He was a lifetime member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Drakes Mills, where he taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, played the hand bells in the bell choir, and was a substitute organist for over thirty years. He was also a member of the church council for over thirty years, most of those years as president. He was also a member and twice Past Master of Covenant Lodge 473 in Cambridge Springs, where he was secretary for twenty-two years, and a past member of the Zem Zem Shrine of Erie. He was active member in the Cambridge Springs Community Theatre for a number of years, serving as assistant director and president. Additionally, he sang with the Cambridge Chorale and then the Potpourri Players. Robert drove school bus and van for forty-one years for Pifer Co., Brown and Smith, and finally PM Bus until February 15, 2016. He was also a school bus instructor for over twenty years. Due to his health, he completely retired on August 7, 2019, after forty-two years of caring for and making sure students were safely transported to and from school. He enjoyed this work very much.
Survivors include wife, Leanne Mitchell of Cambridge Springs; son, Scott Mitchell and his wife, Stephanie of Cambridge Springs; son, Michael Mitchell and his wife, Christy of Cambridge Springs; daughter, Shawna of Dayton, Ohio; seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren: Alan and son Wyatt of Boise, Idaho; Michelle and Mike and their sons Kayden and Tyson of New Derry, Pennsylvania; Devin and his wife Colleen and their children Nevaeh, LaiLynn and Lane of Fort Stewart, Georgia; Austin and his son Keagan of Oxford, Mississippi; Jordan and Felicia Douglass of Portsmouth, Virginia; Cameron Smith of Cambridge Springs; Alyssa and Dave of Cambridge Springs; Chloe of Columbus, Ohio; Matthew currently serving in the US Army; Adam and Lauren of Dayton, Ohio; and Chally of Vandalia, Ohio. Friends may call at Van Matre Funeral Home of Cambridge Springs on Saturday, November 19, from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Drakes Mills on Sunday, at 2 o’clock. Interment and committal will follow at Mitchell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or Mitchell Cemetery Association.
Leanne, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Bob was a great guy. He will be sorely missed by the community. God bless and keep you.
Leanne – My wife and I extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family on Bob’s passing. I had the privilege to serve under him fifty-four years ago when I was stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taichung, Taiwan, where he was my immediate supervisor in Research Section, Base Supply. He was absolutely the best NCO or boss I have ever worked under. I have great memories of working with him. We had only seen each other once since my service days and that was years ago when he and you stopped to visit with me at the Ephrata Cloister. We kept in touch at Christmas and we connected on Facebook in 2021 when I had my open-heart surgery. I valued our long-distance friendship. May he rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss. 🙏🏼♥️
My empathy to the Mitchell family.
..
Bob was a lovely man. I moved into his trailer court in 1989 after I returned frm the country of Mexico with my wife Ginny. He was an excellent landlord and a good friend. The world will miss him!
My condolence to the Mitchell family. I have known Bobby all my life as my father(Dave Pifer) and Bobs father(Clint Mitchell) are first cousins and were best friends all there life. I remember all the Pifer family reunions at Mitchell Lake growning up. May christ look over the Mitchell family during this time of mourning.
Remenbering family
Dave Pifer
Melbourne, Fla
Mrs. Mitchell & Family,
Please know that you are in our thoughts & prayers.
May God wrap you in His loving arms & give you the comfort & support that you all need at this time.