Tuskegee Airman. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Washington D.C., 2007. George was the only child of Edward and Helen Mitchell, raised in South Philadelphia. He applied for and was accepted into the highly competitive Central High School, where he graduated with honors in 1938. Drafted into the infantry at the beginning of WWII, George was transferred to Tuskegee, Alabama for the segregated Army Air Corps “Tuskegee Experiment” due to his prior electronics knowledge and experience. He was assigned as an Aviation Cadet Ground School Instructor in blinker code using the Aldus Light system, and taught radio communications to student pilots and navigators. He received an honorable discharge as a Sergeant, declining an offer of Warrant Officer as he returned to civilian life. George married Lillian Frances Stokes, whom he met at an USO dance. The couple lived in Chicago, IL until moving to Bremerton, WA, where he entered civil service as a Navy employee at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Later, the family moved to Seattle, WA and in 1963, to San Diego, CA, where he was the Division Head Electronics Engineer for shipboard electronics systems. George accepted a supervisory position at the Shore Repair Facility in Agana, Guam, where he and his family lived for 2 years before transferring to Subic Bay, Philippines, with a position in the Shore Electronics Division. They remained there for the next 6 ½ years. While living in Guam and the Philippines, he made numerous trips to Vietnam, at the height of the war, installing radar and communications equipment for the U.S. Navy. He retired as Technical Director Chief Electronics Engineer as a GS15 in 1972. After retiring from Civil Service, he accepted employment with the University of California Scripps Institute of Oceanography as a U.S. Merchant Marine Radio Electronics Officer. As an accomplished photographer, George captured photographic details of the scientists’ discoveries as they sailed the 2200 miles of the Amazon River. After leaving Scripps, he worked for the Exxon Shipping Company as a Radio Officer for the oil tankers travelling between California and Valdez, Alaska, retiring in 1987. George was a well known animal lover, caring for many strays. He was a published photographer, exhibited at the San Diego Photographic Museum, and won numerous national awards. He was a past member of the Toastmasters, Urban League, NAACP, the Seattle Black Y.M.C.A., and faithful member of Chollas View United Methodist Church since 1963. He served in the capacity of Docent, a voluntary position for Scripps Aquarium. In retirement, George pursued his passions of Amateur Radio (call sign K6ZE), photography, and jazz. He was a life member of the American Radio Relay League, and in 2012 was honored by the Quarter Century Wireless Association for 75 years as an active Amateur Radio operator (he was first licensed at age 12). He was a member of the OMIK Amateur Radio Association, the Air Force Flyers Club, and the Old Old Timers Club. After the death of his wife Lillian, George married D’Andrea Davis. He is survived by his wife, D’Andrea; four children, Richard Mitchell of Harrisburg, PA, Lorna Mitchell of Fresno, CA, George Mitchell, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA and actor Brian Stokes Mitchell of New York, NY; two stepsons, Robert Dee and Deon Coons both of San Diego, CA; four grandchildren, Mike and Kris Mitchell, Alyese Davis and Ellington Mitchell; and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lillian, and his son, John.