Avis de décès de Richard Mitchell

MITCHELL, Richard Dec 23, 1939 - Aug 17, 2013 Richard Mitchell received his promotion to heaven in the early hours of August 17, 2013, peacefully, and with a smile on his face, at Cowichan District Hospital. Richard was born in Glenridge, New Jersey, to Thomas and Helen Mitchell, and grew up in Bloomfield, NJ. In 1962 Richard had the opportunity to visit missionary friends in Nigeria. That same year he met Anne Sheppard, of Duncan, BC, who was also working in Nigeria, as a volunteer nurse. Richard and Anne were married on September 2, 1963, in Maple Bay. Richard trained and certified as a mechanic with Volkswagen which enabled them to return to Nigeria. During the Biafran civil war of 1967 they attended Bible college in California but soon returned to Nigeria where they devoted the next 15 years to missionary work. In 1980 they handed over their mission work in Nigeria and returned to Duncan to raise their family. Richard fixed bicycles and continued his service to the church, visiting care homes & seniors' homes, running Bible camps, playing the guitar and singing. Always ready with a story or a song, many people say they felt blessed by his words, compassion and friendship. Richard leaves behind his loving wife of 50 years, Anne, sons Mark (of Hampshire, England), Andrew (of Duncan), Peter (of Edmonton) and daughter Martha Ainslie (of Florida) and beloved grand-children Andrew James, Karrighan, Jordyn, Brooklyn, Rozalina and Ethan. A celebration of Richard's life will be held on Saturday August 31 at 1pm, at New Life Church, 1839 Tzouhalem Road, Duncan. All who knew him are welcome. Richard's family give thanks for his life and for the dedicated care of the Duncan Ambulance Service and the medical staff at Cowichan District Hospital.