Terry Kermit Mitchem

Upon graduation from Lincolnton High School at the age of 17, Terry enlisted in the US Air Force where he was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Terry graduated from North Carolina State University in 1965 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. While there he met the love of his life, Beckie, with whom he would spend 62 years of marriage.

Terry graduated from North Carolina State University, he was employed as an engineer at Boeing Aerospace in New Orleans, LA, and at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL. He then was employed by Western Electric as part of the Safeguard Anti-Ballistic Missile Program in Winston-Salem, NC and Nekoma, ND. While in Winston-Salem, Terry and Beckie started their family, welcoming their two sons Mark and Jonathan. Leaving Western Electric, he transferred to Bell South in Raleigh, NC. He was employed by Bell South in Raleigh until his retirement.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca “Beckie” Ballard Mitchem, of Cary, NC; sons, Mark (Kristin) of Lawrenceville, GA and Jonathan (Michelle) of Fuquay Varina, NC; grandchildren, Tyler and Caroline of Lawrenceville, GA; nephews, Landy (Melanie) of Lincolnton, NC and Ronnie (Lynne) of Pompano Beach, FL; and niece, Sherry Mazaros of Port St. Lucie, FL.

In addition to his parents, Terry is preceded in death by his brothers, Calvin and Dalton Mitchem.

There will be a Celebration of Life and viewing held from 12:00 to 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, NC. Also, a visitation with family and friends will be held at 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at Warlick Funeral Home in Lincolnton, NC with a graveside to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Lincolnton, NC. Following the burial, a reception will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church in Lincolnton, NC.

“Restore us, O God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.”

-Psalm 80:19