Margaret Belle Godlove "Marge" Mitchell

Funeral services for Margaret Belle "Marge" Godlove Mitchell, 99, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. David Hawkins, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. today, Feb. 13, 2012, at Lemons Funeral Home.
Mrs. Mitchell celebrated her 99th birthday by going to be with her Heavenly Father and her best friend and husband. She died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at her residence after a brief illness.
She was born Feb. 11, 1913, in Oklahoma City, Okla., the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Godlove. She attended Peagley Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Okla., and Oklahoma University in Norman where she worked on a degree in theater. On April 3, 1933, she married T.E. "Gene" Mitchell in Purcell, Okla. He died Oct. 19, 1994.
The Mitchells moved to Plainview in 1937 and operated National Oil and Butane Inc. from 1940 to 1980. She became involved in aviation in 1950 when a farmer paid his oil bill by giving her flying lessons. She received her pilot's license that same year, as did her husband, and she started work on her ratings, obtaining her commercial, multi-engine and instrument rating. She went on to accumulate more than 10,000 flying hours in every type of airplane and even flew in a T-37 jet. She participated in 20 Powder Puff Derbys in her Bellanca and was directly responsible for the tour to stop in Plainview in 1975. She placed first in five air races and was in the top five in several others.
She and her husband became partners with James Miller, operating Miller Flying Service, and later she became vice president of Bellanca Aircraft Corporation in Alexandria, Minn., served on the board of directors and was chairman of the board from 1987 to 1999. She traveled extensively selling Bellanca aircraft.
She was a past president of Junior Service League, member of Senior Service League, charter member of Plainview Little Theatre, serving as assistant director; served on the board of directors for United Fund; Cotton Carnival board; YMCA (two terms) National Foundation Board; Town Hall board; American Heart Association; and was on the Plainview School Board for five years, one as vice president.
She organized and was chairman of Top of Texas Chapter of Ninety-Nines, the International Women Pilots Association; served on the Oil Committee Women for SW District; wrote, produced and directed minstrel shows for Plainview Lions Club and Band Parents for 13 years; and was director of entertainment for numerous Plainview events including school youth, band, band shows, cheerleaders, choral groups and style shows and queen contests. She and her husband organized and sponsored the first Plainview Youth Center one year before YMCA was accredited Youth Center.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church; Delta Delta Delta Sorority at Oklahoma University; Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile; Ninety-Nines; Texas State Aviation Association; National Flying Farmers; Texas Flying Farmers; Airplane Owners and Pilots Association; taught co-pilot courses to women in flying; and traveled extensively in sales work for Good Will and public relations to sell aviation.
She had given programs for the National Flying Dentist Convention in Seattle, Wash., National Flying Physicians in Biloxi, Miss., and the National Flying Farmers in Chamberlain, S.D. She and her daughter, Margene, gave many programs locally on marimbas, as well as traveling throughout a five-state region to perform.
Mrs. Mitchell was appointed to the advisory council for the Small Business Administration for two terms, listed in Who's Who of Women; Personalities of the South; and featured in Aviation Man of the Month Magazine, as well as several other publications. She was nominated as Outstanding Woman of the Year 1985 by West Texas State University and received the Mae Carvell Award as outstanding Soroptimist. She and her husband were the first recipients of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce Citizens Through the Years award for 54 years of community service. She was named Pioneer Woman of the Plains in 2002, the same year she retired. A plaque bearing the Mitchells' names was placed in the Centennial Circle of Honor in Regional Park in 2008.
Survivors include one daughter, Margene Webb of Plainview; three grandchildren, Richard Webb of Greeley, Colo., Thomas Webb and his wife, Mitzi, of Dallas and Debbie McCormick and her husband, Gary, of Plainview; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Woolsey W. Godlove and James C. Godlove.
Thanks also to Pat Jackson who cared for her with such love and to Hospice for their kindness and compassion. The prayers of so many friends and family have been deeply felt and appreciated.
Online condolences may be made at www.lemonsfunerals.com.