ROY DAVID MITCHEL

Roy David Mitchel, son of Benjamin and Gertrude, born in McKees Rocks, PA on September 26,1919, passed away peacefully in Greenfield, MA, March 31, 2018, with son, Ira and daughter-in-law, Mary by his side. Roy was predeceased by sister, Violet Mae Kaplan and his beloved bride of 65 years, Paularuth Friedman Mitchel. He is survived by sons, Gershon H. Mitchel of Pittsburgh, Ira S. Mitchel (Mary) of Greenfield, MA, and Jodi Mitchel Tolman (Jay) of Cohasset, MA; as well as grandchildren, Benjamin (Monique) and Joshua Mitchel, Alex Mitchel (Ashley) and Beth Schneider (Michael), and Charlie Jarboe (Julie) and Chloe and Jack Tolman; great- grandchildren include Ellie, Lexi, Noah, and Samantha Mitchel, and Madison Boudreau and Jake Schneider. Roy received his education in Stowe Township and worked in several jobs prior to entering the Air Corps as a radio operator on the B17 Bomber, honorably completing four years of service from February 1942 to December 1945. Several years after completion of his service, Roy became a scrap metal broker with Tube City Iron & Metal where he spent 28 years as a buyer of raw materials for Pittsburgh's steel mills. Roy was an active member of B'nai Brith and served as his chapter's president for many years. He was president of the Ahavath Achim Society and instrumental in securing the land for their Kennedy Township cemetery's use in perpetuity. Roy and Paularuth retired to Florida in 1986 and loved retirement living at Huntington Lakes in Delray Beach. While in Florida, he served as president of the Pittsburgh Club for nearly 15 years. Sometime after Paularuth's death in 2010, Roy and Rose Mandel, also of Delray Beach, became loving companions. It was a comfortable fit as Rose and husband, Izzy, who died some years earlier, and Paularuth and Roy had been longtime and very close friends. Roy Mitchel was simply a beloved man with an indomitable spirit, tender heart, and a tremendous love of life. His children believed he would live forever but, alas, he was only human. Services at RALPH SCHUGAR CHAPEL, INC., 5509 Centre Avenue, Shadyside on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at 10 a.m. Visitation one half hour prior to services, (9:30 - 10 a.m.). Interment Ahavath Achim Cemetery, Kennedy Township. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are invited to make donations in Roy's memory to the cause or charity of their choosing.


Published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr. 12, 2018