James “Jim” Holt Mitchell
James Holt Mitchell, 83, of Bowling Green, MO, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, November 25, 2024, at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. He was born on February 26, 1941 in Montgomery City, MO, and was the son of the late Jessie Elwood and Mary Helen (Holt) Mitchell. Jim was united in marriage to Elizabeth (Betty) Sue Bibb on July 26, 1964, at the First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, MO, and to this union, two sons and one daughter were born.
Jim graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1959. Following his high school graduation, Jim attended college at Mizzou, obtaining both a Bachelor of Science in Education and the rank of Second Lieutenant in the advanced ROTC training program. Jim began his time in the Air Force with flight training in Oklahoma and specialized training on flying the F-4 Phantom II in Florida, with Betty at his side. Becoming a fighter pilot in the Air Force was one of Jim’s proudest accomplishments (until his grandchildren came along).
Jim spent one year in Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in Vietnam, and then was stationed at several different Air Force bases around the country (and outside the states), from Arizona to New Mexico to England, then back stateside to Georgia before going to Korea for a year without his family (a very hard year for all of them), followed by the last two years of his Air Force career back in Georgia. In all, Jim spent 20 years in the Air Force, racking up over 4000 hours of flight time as a pilot, flying F4s, T38s, and F-111s during his service. Jim received 14 oak leaf clusters for his service in Vietnam, as well as a Distinguished Flying Cross.
After retiring from the Air Force, Jim and his family came home to Bowling Green, where he began his second career as a high school physical science and physics teacher. His students remember him fondly for his “POP” quizzes, “SA” tests, and the pixie dust he would use in the classroom to make experiments work. Following 17 years as a full time teacher at the high school and middle school, Jim retired again, but couldn’t sit still. He then started teaching at St. Clement Catholic school, working there for another 5 years. After that, Jim continued substitute teaching at all the area schools until just this year.
An avid runner all of his life, Jim participated in many races, including running for BG at state while in high school, winning second place in both the indoor and outdoor half-mile. He also ran a marathon while he was in Seoul, Korea in 1983. He ran in numerous 5K races locally, and even ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with his oldest son who inherited his love of running. Jim was known by his family as “The Baby Whisperer” because he had the ability to soothe a fussy baby like no one else. He loved all children, especially his grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great nephews. He could usually be found at family gatherings with the youngest kids, pushing them around in cardboard boxes, pretending they were in cars, or just walking them around the house in circles in umbrella strollers. Jim was a coach to his own kids in all the sports they played growing up, and continued that with his nieces and nephews. He and Betty would travel across the state to see their grandchildren participate in any of the numerous activities they were involved in, and hated having to miss anything. He enjoyed Dad jokes, and had great wit, and loved a good pun. He was a voracious reader, enjoying all kinds of books, but mostly mystery and spy novels. He was a lover of puzzles, from crosswords to Boggle, and most recently had begun to enjoy Wordle. Jim was a member of the local VFW Post 5553 and the Bowling Green First Presbyterian Church.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Betty Sue, of Bowling Green, MO; children: Timothy “Tim” Mitchell and wife Michelle of Mexico, MO; Jeffrey “Jeff” Mitchell and wife Shannon of Fenton, MO; and Melissa Walker and husband Jim of Bowling Green, MO; grandchildren: Dr. Nyja Mitchell, Joseph Mitchell, Jordan Mitchell, Brianna Walker, Asher Mitchell, Holt Mitchell, and Morgan Walker; siblings: Barbara Kuda and husband Frank of Maplewood, MO; Paul Smith and wife Paulette of
Spearfish, SD; and Walter Mitchell and wife Mary of Indiana; Bonham Bibb and wife Joyce; Mona Grote and husband Dave; Jack Bibb and wife Cathy; and Rich Marchetto and wife Connie; numerous nieces and nephews who meant the world to him; and long-time foster son Thomas “Tom” Manker, of Columbia, MO. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Earl “Bennie” Bibb and Frances Bibb; sister-in-law Judith “Judy” Marchetto; and nephew Christopher “Chris” Marchetto.
Family and friends will be received from 1:00-3:00pm at Bibb-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green. A Celebration of Jim’s life will follow. The family has requested donations in Jim’s name to be made to Bowling Green High School Alumni Association or Pike County Sheltered Workshop.
