- Date Of Birth: June 21, 1924
- Date Of Death: December 20, 2017
- State: Texas
Anna Beth Mitchell, June 21, 1924 – December 20, 2017.
Anna Beth Phillips Mitchell, born June 21, 1924 to Clifford and Ruby Fowler Phillips, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2017. Anna Beth grew up in Arkansas, the oldest of six children. She was salutatorian of her high school graduating class in Harrison, AR, and went on to graduate from Ouachita Baptist College in 1948, with majors in English and History. That same year, she married World War II veteran Paul N. Mitchell whom she met at college. They had three children: Paula, Phillip, and Mark.
Paul’s career as an army chaplain from 1956 to 1973 led the family to move many times, and Anna Beth always communicated to the children her excitement and curiosity about each new place. When Paul’s orders took them to Germany, Anna Beth made sure the family took advantage of travel and cultural activities in Europe. Everywhere they lived stateside, Anna Beth was sure to expose the kids to sights of historical and cultural importance.
Anna Beth taught school in Maryland and Arkansas and was a popular and beloved teacher at Sugar Loaf Elementary School in Killeen, TX in the 1970s. When Paul embarked on a second career as a field director for the child-care organization, Compassion International, the couple moved to Chicago and then to Colorado Springs, and Anna Beth cheerfully accompanied him from the crowded streets of New Delhi to the jungles of Ecuador.
In 1987, Paul retired and the couple returned to Central Texas to be close to their children and grandchildren. One of Anna Beth’s joys for the next 15 years was participation in the International Sunday School class and Neighbors program at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco. In the Neighbors program, Anna Beth taught English as a second language to women and men from China, Russia, and Mexico. She established many friendships, especially with her Chinese students.
In the later years of their life, Paul and Anna Beth lived at the Meridian Retirement Community in Temple where she enjoyed visits from family and activities with other residents. After Paul’s death, Anna Beth relocated to Austin, Texas. Her family would like to thank Dr. Michael Pelligrini, Chris Holland, and the staff of Buckner Villas for their loving care of Anna Beth during the last three years of her life.
Anna Beth is preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul N. Mitchell and brother, Kenneth Phillips. She is survived by siblings Mary Sue Phillips Barger and Tilden Phillips of Harrison, AR; Gerald Phillips of El Prado, NM; and James Phillips of Abingdon,VA. She is also survived by children Paula Mitchell Marks (husband Alan) of Buda, TX; Phillip Mitchell (wife Pamela) of Clifton, TX; and Mark Mitchell (wife Ann) of Pflugerville, TX and grandchildren Elizabeth Mitchell Ball (husband Andy), Timothy Mitchell (wife Britni), Carrie Marks (husband Josh), and Rebecca Mitchell, and 7 great-grandchildren.
