Ronald Richard Mitchell

Ronald R. Mitchell, 91, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025. He was born on July 4th, 1933, to Richard and Harrison Mitchell in Lexington, KY. Ronald was a beloved parent, spouse, sibling, and granddad.

Ronald entered the Navy shortly after graduating from high school, serving as a Radioman in the Korean and Vietnam wars before retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of service. While stationed in New Jersey, he met and married Margaret James (Tuscaloosa, AL) in 1956. Together they raised three daughters, while living in Maryland, Hawaii, California, Virginia, Morocco, and the Washington DC area, and traveling the world. Upon retirement, he was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency and continued to travel the world, serving another 20 years before retiring a second time. During the 40 years he spent with the federal government, he visited 5 continents and countless countries.

Ronald was known for his love of travel and adventure, sports, and dancing. He loved trying new things and experiencing new adventures. He instilled in his daughters that love of adventure, travel, and sports, along with a strong sense of independence. Some of those adventures included family camping trips across the US and in the mountains while stationed in Morocco. With his daughters he enjoyed snow skiing (where he received several amateur racing medals), water skiing, scuba diving, hang gliding, and tennis. He became an avid golfer in his later years, earning a hole-in-one certificate at the Joint Base Andrews golf course in Maryland. He even rode a motorcycle for a short time and never lost his love for dancing and music.

Following Margaret’s death, he relocated to Palm Coast, FL, remarried, and began showing his new bride the places around the world he so loved. Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings, and wife Margaret. He is survived by his wife Winston; sister Blanche Hughes (Wayne), Fort Collins, CO; three daughters Deborah K. Mitchell Johnson (Gary), Sharon L. Bowden (Jeff), Palm Coast, FL; and Ronnie G. Mitchell, Ormond Beach, FL; three grandsons Gary Jr., Christopher, and James; three great granddaughters Zariyah, Erin, and Olivia; nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 27th at 11:00am, Craig Funeral Home, 511 Old Kings Rd. S, Flagler Beach, FL. Friends and family are invited to attend and pay their respects. Ronald will be buried at the Cheltenham Veteran’s cemetery in Cheltenham, MD on April 15, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) in his memory.

The family would like to express thanks and gratitude to Gentiva Hospice, Palm Coast and Daytona offices, and the Indigo Manor Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care facility for their excellent care and support during his illness and transition.