Luther Burton "Rudy" Mitchell

Notes:

Obituary from the SAN AUGUSTINE TRIBUNE dated 27 August 1998 (page 1)

Funeral Services for Rudy Mitchell

Luther Burton (Rudy) Mitchell, 91, died Wednesday, August 19, 1998 at Twin Lakes Care Center in San Augustine. Funeral services were held Friday, August 21 at Christ Church Episcopal with Rev. Earl Sheffield officiating. Burial was in the San Augustine City cemetery, with Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Mitchell was born in Sabine County on January 31, 1907, son of Jesse James Mitchell and Mary Beulah Fuller Mitchell. After graduating from San Augustine Hight School, he briefly attended the University of Texas. Before returning home to work, he was married to Emma Lurette Ramsey Mitchell on December 16, 1933.

He served in the United States Army during World War II, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Many years ago he was a cotton buyer in the county. As a cattleman and timber grower, Mr. Mitchell was active in the Soil and Water Conservation Service for over 40 years and was Chairman of the Board for many years. He was a member of Christ Church Episcopal in San Augustine, where he served in various capacities for over 50 years.

Rudy never met a stranger and he loved to dance. His last waltz was with Lurette, his bride of 64 years, on his 90th birthday.

Survivors include his wife, Lurette Mitchell; his sons and daughters-in-law, John and Lucy Mitchell and Charles and Barbara Mitchell; and his grandchildren, Jody, Ginny, and Janie Mitchell, all of San Augustine. He was survived by one brother Theron Mitchell of Roseburg, Oregon, and three sisters, Kathryn Hart of Bedford, Texas, Opal Richardson of Salinas, California, and Dorris White of Dyersburg, Tennessee. One brother, Troy Mitchell, and two sisters, Ruby Baggett and Addie Mae Fussell, preceded him in death.

Pallbearers were dear friends Stone Haynes and George Martin, grandson Jody Mitchell, cousin Manse (Buzzy) Mitchell, and nephews Ron Mitchell, Ben S. Ramsey, William C. Ramsey, and Pierre M. Stine.

Memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 85, San Augustine, Texas 75972.

Luther married Emma Lurette Ramsey in Dec 1933 in Newton, Newton County, Texas. Emma (daughter of Judge William Charles Ramsey and Emma T. Jenkins) was born on 30 Jan 1911 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 25 Nov 2009 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried on 28 Nov 2009 in San Augustine City Cemetery, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Judge John Mitchell Dies On Mexico Vacation"...SAN AUGUSTINE TRIBUNE Vol XC, San Augustine, Texas Thursday July 15, 1999 (page 1)

State District Judge John W. Mitchell, who grew up in the shadow of County Courthouse and the State Capitol, died in a swimming accident Tuesday afternoon while vacationing on the West Coast of Mexico.

Judge Mitchell, of San Augustine, the sitting Judge of the 273rd District Court, which serves San Augustine, Sabine and Shelby Counties, and his family were vacationing at a popular Mexico West Coast resort when the accident occurred. They were accompanied by two friends of their teen-age children.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine. It was not known at mid-day Wednesday when his body would be released from Mexico.

Judge Mitchell's brother, District Attorney Charles Mitchell, and Mrs. Mitchell, were enroute to Dallas DFW Airport Wednesday afternoon to meet Judge Mitchell's family, who were flying home and were returning to San Augustine Wednesday night.

Funeral plans will be announced from Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.

Judge Mitchell was born into a family of jurists and statesmen. His grandfather, Judge W. C. Ramsey was County Judge and District Judge. His uncle, and former law partner Gov. Ben Ramsey was Lieutenant Governor of the State longer than any other man at that time, and served as State Representative, State Senator and Railroad Commissioner in a career covering nearly 50 years.

Judge Mitchell was a graduate of San Augustine High School (Note: he was Valedictorian in 1965), graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (1972), practiced law with his uncles, Ben Ramsey and C.S. Ramsey, succeeded his uncle C.S. Ramsey as San Augustine City Attorney, was appointed and later elected County Attorney; was appointed to the State District Judgeship 273rd District to succeed Judge J.L. Smith of San Augustine and has been elected to two successive terms on the State bench.

Judge Mitchell's Court sat for regular semi-annual terms in the three counties jurisdiction, and held numerous special settings in each county.

In addition to his full load as a jurist, Judge Mitchell was a devoted family man, devoting much time to his children at school and extra-curricular activities, and was devotedly attentive to his aging parents, Lou Ramsey Mitchell and the late Rudy Mitchell. He was supporter of the 4-H and FFA and FHA programs and was a visible buyer at the annual (auction).

In a follow-up article dated Thursday, July 22, the Tribune reported that: "Funeral services for Judge Mitchell were held Saturday, July 17 at 11:00 o'clock at Christ Church Episcopal in San Augustine with burial in the San Augustine City Cemetery, Father Reginald Milburn Church's (conducting) services for the burial of the dead. Some 100 family and friends gathered inside the historic church building while over 500 friends gathered on the shaded lawn for the services. The Texas Department of Public Safety provided an Honor Guard for the services and they were joined by local and visiting police officers, sheriff's officers and officials from the three counties of the 273rd District. A flag folding ritual by the DPS team at the Cemetery presented the Casket Covering Texas Flag to Judge Mitchell's mother, Lurette Ramsey Mitchell at the end of the service. Judge Mitchell is survived by his wife, Lucy Meyer Mitchell; son Jody Mitchell, daughter Ginny Mitchell all of San Augustine.......

Pallbearers were family members, Pierre M. Stine, Ben S. Ramsey, Gray B. Jolink, William C. Ramsey, C. Fred Meyer, John P. Seale, Kenneth B. Meyer, Joseph F. Meyer IV. Honorary Pallbearers were the Go-Texan Committee, of which he formerly served as Ambassador, Mike Adams, Vic Ettridge, Roger Holt, Billy Archer, Jamie Doherty, Dan Fussel, Jack Nichols, Norrell Thomas, Richard Hardy, Rod McLerran, Jimmy C. Morris, "Raggy" Stripling.

Judge Mitchell's service to the County and State is varied, and he served the Democratic Party as County Party Chairman for eight years, 1978 through 1985, an elective party office. He served the City of San Augustine for 16 years as city attorney, 1973 through 1989 and served the County of San Augustine as County Attorney for three years (1989-1992) before being appointed to the State District Court bench (in September 1992. He was) elected as the Democratic Candidate in 1994 and 1998. "

This article included other professional and civic organizations that Judge Mitchell was active in, too numerous to list. It also included 15 or so pictures related to Judge Mitchell, highlighting his judicial and civic activism. A related article entitled "You're a Young Old Timer....if You Remember" pointed out that "too often we take those we see every day for granted and I'm afraid that's what we did to John Mitchell. I'm afraid we saw him every day and failed to recognize his greatness..." Finally, a related pictorial shows the various buildings around San Augustine that flew their flags at half-mast on the day of the funeral in Judge Mitchell's honor.

The announcement of Judge's Mitchell's accidental death was at around the same time as the announcement of the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in a plane crash off Martha's Vineyard.

John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]