RANDOLPH - James "Jim" Carl Mitchell, 72, of Main Street, Randolph, N.Y., passed away Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, at home with his family by his side, while under the care of Hospice.
He was born Jan. 26, 1940, in Ellicottville, N.Y., the son of the late Charles Frank Mitchell and Alberta Weishan Mitchell.
Jim was a 1959 graduate of Ellicottville Central School, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Vietnam War era from 1963 to 1969, and receiving the Good Conduct medal and Expert Sharp Shooter Award.
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He and his wife, Sally, were owner-operators of Mitchell Surge in Randolph, serving dairy farms throughout Western New York for more than 30 years. In earlier years, he had worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association.
He was a member of the Randolph United Presbyterian Church, Ellicottville American Legion Post 659, Randolph Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 2273 and the former Randolph Grange.
Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing, spending time with his family and taking his annual fish-ing trip with his family to Canada.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sally Jane Herman Mitchell, whom he married May 6, 1961, in the Ellicottville Presbyterian Church; a son, Phillip "PJ" Mitchell and wife, Tracey, of Randolph; two daughters: Kelly Mitchell of Randolph, and Kimberly "Kimmer" Mruk and husband, John, of Wake Forest, N.C.; seven grandsons: Michael James Lundsten and wife, Alyssa, Matthew Lundsten, Jacob Long, Austin and Alex Mitchell, and Nicholas and Joshua Mruk; and five foster children: Kevin Willard, Mark Hulbart, Debbie Snyder, Eva Phillips-McCall and Mark Phillips.
He was preceded by his parents; a stepmother, Edna Mitchell; brothers: Charles Frank Mitchell Jr. and Albert Ray Mitchell; sisters: Corrine Wulf and Frances Keir; and a foster son, Michael Phillips.
The family will receive friends from 3-7 p.m. Friday (Dec. 20, 2012), in the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church St., Randolph, NY 14772, from where funeral services will be held at 11 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Leslie Latham, pastor of the Randolph United Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted by members of the Ellicottville and Randolph American Legion Posts.
Memorials may be sent to the Randolph Weeden Road Park, Randolph Unit-ed Presbyterian Church; or the Ellicottville American Legion Post 659.
To leave a condolence, log onto www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com.
