Diane Mitchell

Memorial service for Diane Hall Mitchell, 75, of Lubbock, will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the First United Methodist Church. Graveside service and burial will be 11 a.m. at Resthaven Memorial Park’s Mausoleum Chapel.

Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Resthaven Funeral Home.

Diane died Saturday, Feb. 5, after a brave battle with lung disease. She was born on May 4, 1935, in Lubbock to Mary and Mancil Hall, who preceded her in death. Diane grew up in Littlefield, Texas, where her father owned the Ford dealership. At Littlefield High School, she was a cheerleader, a member of the band and student council and valedictorian of her class. She graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University in 1956. At SMU, Diane met her future husband, Horace A. "Mitch" Mitchell. They were married almost 55 years.

After Mitch completed his military service in Virginia and graduated from SMU law school in Dallas, Diane and Mitch moved to Littlefield in 1959. Mitch bought the Ford dealership from Mancil Hall, which he renamed Mitchell Ford. The Mitchells owned the Littlefield Ford dealership until 1973.

Diane dedicated herself to raising two daughters. She was very active in the Littlefield Presbyterian Church and in civic organizations, including the Littlefield Woman's Club and We the Women, of which she served as president.

In 1974, the family moved to Lubbock where Mitch opened a law practice and Diane became a certified travel agent. During her 31-year career as a travel agent, Diane organized and led numerous group tours throughout the world. With Mitch, Diane walked on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

In Lubbock, Diane was a member of Lubbock Woman’s Club, the Symphony Guild, AK Chapter of PEO, and the Texas Tech University Museum Association, where she served on the travel committee.

She was a member of Texas Old Missions and Forts Restoration Association (TOMFRA) and the First United Methodist Church. Diane taught Sunday school classes almost continuously for more than 55 years. She loved fishing and was an avid student of biblical history and archeology.

She is survived by her husband, and by daughters, Debbie Price and son-in-law Larry Price of Dayton, Ohio, and Janet Wear and son-in-law Charles Wear of Kansas City, Mo., and three grandchildren, David Lukens, Thomas Lukens and Amanda Price.

The family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church Everliving Trust, Southern Methodist University or a favorite charity.