Betty Jane Mitchell

Betty Jane Mitchell of Gainesville, Virginia, entered Heaven on Friday, July 1, 2022 after a short battle with health issues. Until her health issues she was active and her mind was clear. Betty was always ready for the next adventure. Her daughter, Kimberly Ann Mitchell and a dear family friend, Jenny Bohannon, were by her side reading Bible scriptures and signing hymns as Betty stepped into heaven.

Betty was born in Portage, Wisconsin on August 28, 1925 to Clyde and Sarah Pratt. She was the third daughter and one of six children. Betty spent her childhood growing up in Portage. During her senior year in high school Betty applied and was accepted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a position in Washington, D.C. The day after graduation from Portage high school Betty boarded the train and left for Washington, D.C. Having never been more than 10 miles from Portage and only 17 years old this was quite an adventure. The year was 1943 and America was in WWII. Betty thrived in Washington and trained to become a finger print specialist with the F.B.I.

In 1952 Betty attended a Billy Graham Crusade being held in Washington, D.C. and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and Lord. This decision would shape and direct everything in her life until her physical death on 1 July 2022. Two years later, in 1954, she would meet her beloved husband, Harry Grover Mitchell. They married in January 1956 and were together until February 2018 (62 years) when Harry proceeded Betty in physical death. Betty and Harry had one daughter that they treasured and loved deeply - Kimberly Ann.

In 1960 Betty moved with her husband and daughter to Tulsa, Oklahoma. After 17 years with the F.B.I. , Betty, put her finger print skills to good use and was hired by the Tulsa Police Department in 1960. She was the first woman hired by the Tulsa Police Department and provided her expertise for the three years the Mitchell’s lived in Tulsa. In 1963 the family returned to the Washington, D.C. area and settled in Northern Virginia.

In 1969 Betty joined the Central Intelligence Agency and spent her career at C.I.A. working as a Library Assistant. After 36 years of federal government service, Betty retired and went to work for T.R.W., Lockheed Martin and then Northrop Grumman. At age 70 Betty retired and spent the next 27 years taking care of her family and studying her Bible.
Over the years Betty was able to travel to Israel and Egypt twice and Greece and Turkey. These trips were Bible study trips that changed her life and deepened her love and understanding of the Bible. Betty also traveled to the Bahamas and the Grand Canyon for once in a lifetime trips with her family. While she loved traveling and was very active she cherished her time at home with family and friends. Betty joined CBS - Community Bible study and was an active member. She treasured and loved her group of friends at CBS.
Betty also attended Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland for 42 years. She loved her church and the Pastors at Fourth where the word of Lord is faithfully taught. Betty was an amazing wife, mother and friend. She loved her family deeply and sacrificially. Betty always put her husband and daughter first.

In addition to her daughter, Betty is survived by her beloved 3 year old chocolate Labrador retriever, Obadiah Mitchell, a sister-in-law, numerous nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces along with a number of close friends from Community Bible Study and Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry Grover Mitchell and her parents, Clyde and Sarah Pratt as well as her 5 siblings, Violet Cairns, Katherine Wiersma, Walter Sonny Pratt, Arthur Pratt and Myrtle Hady.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 1 pm - 2 pm at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 5500 River Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20816. The service will follow in the Upper Room of the church from 2pm - 3pm. A reception will follow immediately at the church.

Memorial Service, Friday, June 14, 2024 - 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm - Old Post Chapel - Fort Myer

Please enter via FORT MYER HATFIELD GATE, 29 Carpenter Rd, Fort Myer, VA 22211, between 1:30 pm and 1:45 pm . All attending will require a government photo ID, such as driver's license at the security station. You cannot enter Fort Myer directly from Arlington Cemetery Gate.

Graveside Funeral Service to follow, Friday, June 14, 2024, approximately 3:45 PM to 4:00 PM - Arlington National Cemetery

Vehicles will proceed in a procession from the Old Post Chapel to the Inurnment in a Niche in the Columbarium. Following the Inurnment, vehicles will return together to Fort Myer, Patton Hall for the funeral repast.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the following: Samaritan’s Purse at https://www/samaritanspurse.org or The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at https://billygraham.org.
Arrangements entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, P.A., Gaithersburg, MD, 301-495-4950, www.interfaithfunerals.com