NEWPORT NEWS — Dr. George Stanley “Stan” Mitchell Jr., 94, died peacefully Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at his beloved home. Family members and caregivers were at his bedside.
Stan was born July 26, 1926, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to George S. and Ernestine M. Mitchell. He graduated from Murphy High School, Mobile, Alabama, in 1944. Stan served in the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps, as pharmacist mate 2nd class from 1944 to 1946. He graduated from Duke University in 1950 with a B.A. Degree in Chemistry. He received an M.D. Degree at Medical College of Virginia in 1954 and completed his internship year at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in 1955.
Stan was a strong patriot; he valued the American flag and prayed daily for troops in service to their country. Stan was in the U.S. Naval Reserve as pharmacist mate 2nd class, 1946 to 1950; ensign in Hospital Corps, 1951 to 1954; and lieutenant in Medical Corps, 1954 to 1955.
Practicing family medicine was his pride and joy. Stan first entered family practice in 1955 with Dr. G.C. Amory in historic Hilton Village of Newport News. He later moved to Ivy Farms Family Practice in partnership with Dr. Henry Ware. In 1971, Stan left private practice to become the director of the Riverside Hospital Family Practice Residency Program. In this position, he combined his love of medicine with his love of teaching. In 1991, he became the geriatrics director of the residency program and retired in 1995.
Stan was director of Patient Care Services at Peninsula Health Center from 1971 to 1988. He served as the medical director of Riverside Regional Convalescent Center from 1973 to 1994. He was medical director for Virginia Health Services from 1964 until his retirement.
Stan was chief of staff at Riverside Hospital, 1965; assistant state medical examiner for Newport News 1957 to 2005. He served as president of the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians from 1984 to 1985 and as a board member from 1962 to 1964 and 1979 to 1986. He was past president for Peninsula Heart Association and for Hampton Roads Academy of Family Practice. He was a charter member of the American Board of Family Medicine and a charter fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Stan was an active member of Hidenwood Presbyterian Church. He served as elder and Stephen minister; he created and delivered children’s sermons and enjoyed Sunday school. Stan supported the church faithfully and generously as a servant/leader.
As an only child, Stan enjoyed being the center of attention. He was naturally confident and welcomed leadership positions, public speaking opportunities and political debates with friends. He was a voracious reader of newspapers, history, Christian studies, novels, biographies and sailing adventures. Travel tours to Alaska, New Zealand and Antarctica fed his love of learning. Sailing his 36-foot “Ultimo” with his crew, up and down the East Coast, or to Bermuda and back, brought joy.
He enjoyed the local symphony, big bands and dancing the jitterbug. Stan wore bowties and dapper caps, enjoyed an occasional dark (not sissy) beer, his cottage on the Severn River, wine and cheese parties with his residents. He loved life and his type A personality kept his “bucket list” full to overflowing.
Stan was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Connie Green Mitchell, who died Aug. 23, 2020.
He is survived by his three children, Julie Mitchell Mabe (Don) of Beaufort, South Carolina, Jodie Mitchell Bayne of Newport News and George Stanley “Mitch” Mitchell III (Marty) of Midlothian; five grandchildren, Matthew Mitchell Mabe (Erica) of Atlanta, Laura Mabe Gardner (Dave) of Raleigh, Jessie Bayne McDougal (Ryan) of Newport News, Erin Mitchell (Jackie) of Richmond and Hunter Mitchell of Richmond; and five great-grandchildren, Stella and Mason Mabe, Bennett and Brooks Gardner and Sawyer McDougal. Stan is also survived by Anne Burton Mitchell of Newport News, his “stepmom” and wife of the late George Stanley Mitchell Sr.
The family wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the nursing and support staffs of The Huntington, The Newport and James River Convalescent Centers, Home Instead, Riverside Regional Medical Center, and Virginia Health Services Hospice. Praise, love and appreciation to Barbara Brown for years of weekday care and to Cheryl Cochran for making such a difference in Stan’s quality of life and the life of his family.
A private graveside service will be held due to the pandemic.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stan’s memory may be made to Hidenwood Presbyterian Church, 414 Hiden Blvd., Newport News, VA 23606.
Share online condolences with the family at Peninsula Funeral Home.
