Benjamin F. Mitchell Jr.

Published 11:06 pm Monday, May 6, 2013

Benjamin F. Mitchell Jr., 77, of Downingtown, Pa., passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.

He was the beloved husband of Diane G. (Guthrie) Mitchell, with whom he shared 51 years of marriage.

Born in Suffolk, Ben was the son of the late Benjamin F. Sr. and Margaret Wallace Mitchell.

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Mr. Mitchell received a B.A. in business from the University of Richmond. He worked for Amtrak as their senior director of track maintenance for 24 years, retiring in 2002.

Ben was the state tennis champ in singles and doubles from 1952 to 1954 while attending Suffolk High School. He served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1962. He also enjoyed coaching youth football and basketball.

He was a member of the Calvary Fellowship Church in Lionville and recently served as an ambassador for the Left Ventricular Assistance Device (LVAD) pump.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Mitchell is survived by a son, Andrew S. (Terri), of Natick, Mass.; daughters, Virginia L. (Anthony) Patchel, of Morgantown, Pa., and Lisa Beth (Steve) Smith, of Downingtown, Pa.; and grandchildren, Brandon, Tyler and Cameron Patchel, Ashley and Jessica Mitchell and Kayla and Megan Smith.

Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral service on Friday, May 10, 2013, at 4 p.m. at Calvary Fellowship Church, 95 W. Devon Drive, Downingtown, Pa., where friends may call from 3 to 4 p.m.

A graveside service will take place on Monday, May 13, 2013, at 2 p.m. in Holly Lawn Cemetery, Suffolk.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Salvation Army, 101 E. Market St., West Chester, PA 19380.

To send online condolences, visit www.jamesterryfuneralhome.com.