Lester Mitchell

Lester V. Mitchell HUNTERSVILLE - Lester Voyette Mitchell, 86, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, at the Levine and Dickson Hospice House. He was born Aug. 16, 1923 in Durham, N.C. His family moved to Wallace, N.C., where he graduated from high school in May 1941, entered the U.S. Navy in July 1941, and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, retiring in 1967. He worked briefly as his church's administrative assistant prior to accepting a job at Norfolk General Hospital, working in housekeeping while learning administration. After four years, he accepted a job at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, administering to three departments and working for the surgeon general of the Navy implementing management programs. After his retirement in 1983, he and Lea traveled in their RV for a number of years. He was active in his church, serving in many capacities, was chaplain of his camping group, a Master Mason, Scottish Rite Mason and a Shrine Mason, being active in all three for a number of years. He was preceded in death by his mother, Pauline Haswell Jenkins. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Lea Snipes Mitchell; a son, Daryl Mitchell and wife Marion of Virginia Beach; a daughter, Leslie Mitchell and her husband Adrian Pringle of Cornelius; a brother, Roy Jenkins of Durham; a sister, Frances Davis of Cheshire, Conn.; and grandchildren, Edward and Delaney. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, June 22, at 11 a.m. in the mausoleum chapel in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, with full honors provided by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.