Betty Jean Mitchell

Betty “Jean” Mitchell (1923-2017) Betty “Jean” (Wilson) Mitchell, age 94, passed away on June 27, 2017 of natural causes, under the care of the Hospice of the Chesapeake in Pasadena, MD.  For about the past 3 years she had lived at the Crofton Care and Rehab Center nursing home in Crofton, MD near her son Kenneth.  Jean was born in 1923 in southeast Ohio, where she was raised by her parents Roy and Freda Wilson, along with her siblings Harold, LaVerne, and Martha. Jean married Clifford S. Mitchell in 1944 and celebrated 70 loving and devoted years of marriage.  They raised three children, Susanne, Barbara, and Kenneth, in the northern Illinois towns of Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills, Aurora, and Rockford, and then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, transferring to all these locations during Clifford’s long career with Prudential Insurance Co.  For the next 25 years they retired to Florida, first in Spring Lake and then Lake Placid, to be near retired siblings.  During their retirement, they traveled extensively nationwide in their RV.   Subsequently in 2012 they moved to assisted living at Tabor Hills in Naperville, IL, to be near their daughter Barbara.   Husband Clifford predeceased Jean in June of 2014 and soon thereafter, Jean moved to the nursing home in Maryland near her son. Jean was widely acknowledged as very intelligent and bright.  She graduated at age 16 with honors from Zanesville, OH high school.  Jean then attended Ohio University for 3 years in Athens, OH on a full scholarship. From there Jean moved to Chicago, IL and trained at Michael Reese Hospital where she obtained her medical technology certification.  Jean then moved to Champaign/Urban, IL to work at Carle Hospital. It was there she met and dated her husband Clifford, who was stationed at nearby Chanute Army Air Field.  Clifford was soon transferred to Camp Kearns near Salt Lake City, Utah. Jean traveled to Salt Lake to marry Clifford before he was shipped to the South Pacific theatre of World War II. After their marriage, Jean returned to her job in Champaign/Urbana, IL.  While her husband was overseas, Jean gave birth to their first child, Susanne. Following her husband’s return from WWII, Jean dedicated herself to being a devoted wife, dependable homemaker and loving mother of three.  She steered her intelligence to a passion for reading history, biographies, religion, archeology, and more.  She enjoyed memberships in several civic clubs in Rockford, IL and was active in philanthropy. She was also a den mother for Cub Scouts and an assistant den mother for Girl Scouts. She taught Bible School at the First Christian Church in Aurora, IL and assisted at Temple Baptist Church in Rockford.  She also enjoyed playing cards and doing crossword puzzles. She was a formidable opponent in bridge and scrabble.  She enjoyed traveling widely both in the U.S. and overseas. Predeceased by her parents, husband Clifford, daughter Susanne, brother Harold, and sister LaVerne, Jean is survived by her sister, Martha, her two children Barbara and Kenneth, her four grandchildren Dionne, Ryan, Emily, and Gregory and eight great grandchildren. A Memorial Service for Jean will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy (Rte. 3 South), Bowie, MD 20715 with Reverend Marie Bunt officiating.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.beallfuneral.com.  Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122.