Arnella Mitten

GREENFIELD – Arnella Erlene (Murphy) Mitten, age 92, passed away Thursday, September 5, 2024. Born July 25, 1932 in Mohawk, Indiana she was the third child born to Walter Paul and Opal Fern (Maroska) Murphy whom were wonderful parents. She was blessed to have a great childhood. She graduated from Mt. Comfort High School, now gone forever, and Central Beauty College.
On August 2, 1952 she married Walter Wiley Mitten from Spencer, Indiana. To this union were born four wonderful children, daughter Nikki Faune (Dave) Ward, son Walter Kim (Tina) Mitten, daughters Julia Bernice (Bob) Reeves and Angela Rae (Bill) Linville. Sadly, we lost Dave and Bill in 2017 to cancer. Angela also passed away due to cancer in April of 2020. Two children still live in Mohawk, Indiana, Julie in Brown County, Indiana. She was also proud to call Diane (Fred) Janot her honorary daughter.
She retired from Defense Finance and Accounting Service as a loss and damage claims examiner in the transportation operation department on September 23, 1994, along with over two hundred other retirees. Nell, as she was known to family and friends, loved to travel. She had managed to be in all fifty states. She also made a memorial trip to Israel and Egypt. She collected cookbooks, nativities, paper weights, dolls (including Barbie), and angel figurines. Nell loved camping, penny slots, would host yearly Halloween parties, and joyfully spent ten years in Florida with her dear friend Frieda.
She was a member of the Dizzy Dozen Bunco Club, Mohawk United Methodist Church, Eden OES #101, past matron for McCordsville OES #156, American Legion Auxiliary # 182, until their demise the Tripoley Club, AARP, and NARFE. She was very happy when all the family would come together, especially at family reunions. She not only loved her family, but her sister and brother as well as all of Walt's family. His mom and dad were like second parents to her. During her lifetime she cooked a lot of dinners and would invite her gang from work, also serving family and friends. Nell felt especially blessed when she was given the opportunity to host a friend's retirement dinner.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walt in April 1991 due to a car accident, returning home from a trip to Guatemala. She is also preceded in death by her parents, W. Paul and Opal Murphy; her in-laws, Walter S. and Pearl Mitten; and her son-in-laws and daughter mentioned above. She considered her mother and mother-in-law a couple of jewels. Besides the children, Nell was blessed with and survived by twelve grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, and ten great great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at the mortuary with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Pastor Charles Pelc will be officiating. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Greenfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail to the Mohawk United Methodist Church at 2045 W. 400 N., Greenfield, IN 46140, or envelopes will be available at the mortuary. Friends may share a memory or condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.