Buddy Lee Mitchell's Obituary
MITCHELL, BUDDY LEE age 78, resident of Frisco, TX, passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2011. He was born December 6, 1932 in McCamey, Texas, eldest son of Artie and Elmo Mitchell. Graduated from Carthage High School in 1951; attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute in Lafayette, LA. Worked for Shell Oil Co. In 1953 completed basic training at Ft. Hood, TX, and served as a combat medical corpsman in the Korean War. In 1954 transferred to Salzburg, Austria where he served as a supervisor in the Artillery Survey Section of the 510th Field Artillery Battallion. Honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1955. Worked in the oil and gas drilling services and was employed with Rig Time. Wanting a change in his life, he moved to Hawaii in the 1960’s. During the late 1960’s Buddy was a Sales Manager with the Hilton Hotels in Hawaii. In the early 1970’s he began working with the airline industry in Hawaii as a salesman with Aloha Airlines. He was promoted to Southeastern Regional Sales Manager for Aloha Airlines. In 1973 he and his family moved to Dallas where he opened a regional sales office for Aloha Airlines. In 1975 Buddy made a major career move by joining Southwest Airlines. He admired the SWA culture and embraced their spirit of service. He started in ground operations and later became manager of baggage/customer services at Love Field, Dallas. In 1985 he received the Herb Kelleher President’s Award in recognition of his good Samaritan qualities with helping customers and fellow employees. He retired from Southwest Airlines in1996. During retirement Buddy realized the building of his dream home on the eastern shores of Lewisville Lake. He enjoyed boating, playing golf, befriended a group of radio control airplane builders and flyers, and became an avid member of the North Dallas RC Club. Survived by his wife of 42 years, Leonie Mitchell; his son, Richard Siler and wife Deborah; grandson, Matthew Lee Siler, and granddaughter Sarah Siler. Survived also by his sister Dana Fontenot; Aunts, Eugenia Bardin Williams, and Evea Bardin Huffaker; sister-in-law, Betty Vallot Mitchell and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, and many dear friends. Preceded in death by his infant son Buddy Lee Mitchell, Jr. (born in 1963); his father, mother, brother, Jim and sister, Marian. Family to receive friends at a visitation from 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2011 at Restland Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 12 noon in the Memorial Chapel followed by interment at Restland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to your favorite charity or to the Texas A& M 12th Man Foundation, P.O. Box 2800, College Station, TX 77841-2800.
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