Howard Vern Mitchell, 91 / July 20, 1918 – Feb. 20, 2010

Published 10:44 am Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Howard Vern Mitchell, 91, of Niles died at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles of natural causes.

He was born July 20, 1918 in Berrien Springs. He was a farmer and lifetime area resident. Howard was a World War II veteran in the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by his sons, Phillip (Georgiane) Mitchell of Dowagiac and Thomas (Sherry) Mitchell of Niles; daughters, Mary Ann (Bill) Brandys of Statesville, N.C.; Marian (George) Stinebaugh of Niles; Beverly Parnell of Benton Harbor and Diane Warr of Muskegon, Mich.; brothers, Don Mitchell of Niles and Jim Mitchell of Flint, Mich.; sister, Kathryn Lavenka of Bridgman; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Edith Mitchell, who died in 1993; his parents, Clyde and Tressa Mitchell; son, George Mitchell; daughter, Martha Hoadley; and five brothers.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles with Pastor Randy Pearman of Bethel Baptist Church, Niles officiating.

Burial will be at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to cancer research.