Opal Mitchell

Opal Mitchell
Opal Mitchell was born Opal Viola Kaminsky in Nebraska on January 25, 1930. She and her family moved to find a better life after the drought that followed the Great Depression, first settling in the Wenatchee Valley and then moving to Ellensburg in 1939. She passed away March 1, 2017 with her family by her side.
When she later wrote about her life, she said, "A family named Mitchell also came to Ellensburg from Nebraska. I'm glad they did as they had a tall, good looking son, three years older than me.
During high school, I ice skated in the winter on Tjossem pond and had lots of parties and fun with our young people's group at church. During the war, we were encouraged to write our servicemen, so guess who I wrote most often, Vernon C. Mitchell.I had a crush on him for two or three years. (When I received more letters than his mother, I thought I had made progress.)"
She completed high school in Ellensburg and immediately found work at Washington National Bank. Opal and Vern Mitchell married in September 1948. Six children quickly followed.
In 1961 Vern and Opal purchased Midstate Aviation at the Ellensburg airport. They offered the services of air charter, crop dusting, flight instruction, fuel and maintenance.
Vern died unexpectedly on May 18, 1980. Following his death, Opal never remarried. Instead, she devoted herself to her family and her work at the airport. She sold the company to her only son Ron Mitchell, who still owns the fixed base operation there today. During the years that followed Vern's death, she continued to remain active in the business and was instrumental in its growth. At its peak, it became the largest flight school in the Northwest and trained many of the commercial pilots currently flying today. Along with her amazing love for her family, she cherished the beautiful friends that came alongside and did life with her after Vern's death. Opal also served in several ministries at her church, which is now called Mercer Creek. Over her years she served as an assistant in the church library, the assistant treasurer and one of the volunteers responsible for counting the offering. She enjoyed participating in many bible studies, her fellowship and support of other members in T.O.P.S. and serving on the board of Christian Women's Club. She co-founded a Christian singles group with Kathy Grapes and was a member of the founding board of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Kittitas County. Throughout her life, Opal remained passionate about supporting global missions, in part because family members from both her side and Vern's served on the mission fields.
She invested in these various ministries out of her love of her Lord and as an outpouring of gratitude for what He'd done in her life; her final days were spent reminding her family and friends of her love for them and God's purpose in their lives. One of her final messages was that she'd somehow forgotten in the years that passed between losing her husband and being diagnosed with Parkinson's to rejoice in all circumstances, and she dedicated herself in her last week to reminding her family of the grace we've been given and the love we get to experience.
She's preceded in death by her husband Vernon C. Mitchell, parents Lloyd and Ora Kaminsky, sister Lucille, and brothers Paul, Robert, and Harold Kaminsky.
She is survived by many close friends who were dear to her, by her son Ron (Sonja) Mitchell and daughters Donna (Ed) Hobart, Sharon (Don) Hegarty, Marlene (Lyle) Pfeifer, Julie (Greg) Fischer, and Lynette (Bill) Arnold. Including grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren (and two on the way,) she leaves a legacy of 63 family members.
A family graveside service will precede her memorial at 12:30 pm at High Valley Cemetery. Please join us in a celebration of Opal's life March 10 at 2:00 pm at Mercer Creek Church 1407 N. B St. Ellensburg, WA 98926
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Care Net (P.O. Box 740, Ellensburg, WA 98926) or Hospice Friends (302 S. Main, Ellensburg, WA 98926) in her memory.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brooksidefhc.com.