John E. Mitchell

On Sunday, November 12, 2023 John’s family watched him go to be with his Lord.

John E. Mitchell, 83, of Cream Ridge, NJ was born in Northwestern PA in Warren. He grew up in Clarendon and at the age of 13, his family moved to the Colonial Lakelands in Lawrence Township NJ. He graduated from Lawrence Junior High School, Trenton Central High School, and Rider College. At Rider he earned a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Management and was a brother of Theta Chi Fraternity.

Following graduation, John enlisted in the Navy and was enrolled in Officers Candidate School in Newport, RI. After successfully completing the entrance and training, he received his commission as an Ensign in the U.S.N.R. He received orders to report to the Terrebonne Parish, LST 1156 in Norfolk, VA. He served as the Gunnery Officer, Special Weapons Officer, Boat Officer, Wave Guide Commander, Boat Group Commander, and Catholic Lay Officer. After a Nor’easter when the ships were anchored off Onslow Beach, NC, he is credited with saving the life of a 2nd Class Sonarman off a Minesweeper.

Following his 18-month tour aboard his ship, John received orders to report to Naval Gunfire School for training. Upon graduation, he was ordered to report to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines in Camp Lejeune, NC. While on a three-month Caribbean assignment cruise, the Battalion were ordered into the Dominican Republic to put down the rioting and protect American lives. They were acknowledged by President Johnson as to “Detering the spread of communism in the Caribbean.”

After being released from active duty, John worked for General Motors in Ewing, Paramount Communications, and Triangle Industries before starting his own advertising business which he successfully ran for 22 years before retiring. After his retirement, John worked for Manheim in New Jersey as a jump truck driver. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Church in Allentown and more recently, St. Isidore the Farmer in New Egypt. John was an avid Miami Dolphins fan and enjoyed spending time with his family. He especially liked attending or hearing about his grandchildren’s activities.

John is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Barbara A. Mitchell; his daughters Barbara (Rob) Davies of Holt, Michigan, Jeannie (Art) Pompei of Columbus, NJ, and Elisa (Matt) Holzbaur of Huntersville, NC; his grandchildren Jessica, Michael, Robbie, Ethan, Trent, and Emma; and his sisters Jean Pancoast and Toni Kovach of Florida and Gale (Hank) Swiatkowski of New Jersey.

A viewing will be held from 10-11am on Monday November 20th followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 11am. Both the viewing and mass will be held at St. Isidore the Farmer, Assumption Church, 28 Monmouth Rd., Wrightstown, NJ 08562. Interment will follow in Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Wrightstown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the VFW National Home at www.vfwnationalhome.org

Arrangements are under the direction of Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown, NJ.