Bob Mitchell

Services for retired Texas Ranger Bob Mitchell, 73, of Waco, formerly of Troup, were held June 23 in Knox Hall at Fort Fisher with Texas Ranger Chaplains Clayton Smith and George Frazier officiating.

Masonic graveside services were in Moore Cemetery, Chalk Bluf f, with militar y honors by the DPS Honor Guard. Capt. Mitchell died June 18, 2007 at his residence. He was born May 17, 1934 in Troup to the late Erby D. and Ruth Skillern Mitchell. He graduated in 1952 from Elkhart High School and attended Henderson County Junior College. He served in the Army during the Korean War and joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in April 1958.

He served as a state trooper in New Braunfels until becoming a Texas Ranger on Dec. 1, 1967. As a Ranger, he served in Tyler, Austin and Waco, where he was captain of Company F, Texas Rangers, for 18 years. He retired in 1992 after 35 years and then served on the Fort Fisher Advisory Board and on board of Texas Ranger Association Foundation.

In 2000, he served as interim sheriff of McLennan County for eight months. He was a member of Northside Church of Christ and Baylor Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by daughter, Karen Mitchell Hague; brothers, Wayne and Jimmy Mitchell; and sister, Wanda Wilkerson.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Jerry Busby Mitchell, Waco; daughter, Carol Mitchell Matthieson, Atlanta, Ga.; son, Bobby Mitchell, Waco; brother, Darwin Mitchell; five grandchildren; and other relatives.

Pallbearers were Bobby Mitchell, Dusty Mitchell, John Hague, Andrew Matthieson, Eric Matthieson and John Vickery. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Allen, Ed Burleson, Jack Dean, Glenn Elliot, Larry Lynch, Bob Prince, Larry Scott, Louis Sommer and James Wright.

If desired, memorials may be made to Capt. Bob Mitchell Memorial Fund at Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum; or Northside Church of Christ Building Fund.