MITCHELL, Danny Joe, 77, of Lebanon, OH, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at his home.  He was born November 15, 1947, in Lexington, KY, to Chester and Amy (nee: Tirey) Mitchell.  Following graduation from Kings Mills High School, Danny married his wife Wanda and enlisted in the Air Force.  Danny's Air Force career took him and his young family to numerous Air Force bases across the country and around the world, including two tours of duty in the Vietnam War arena in Thailand and South Vietnam.  He and his family were also stationed for three years at RAF Bentwaters in England.  He retired ranked SMSgt and assigned as First Sergeant of the Logistics Squadron at Wright Patterson AFB.

Danny was a lifelong learner. While serving and after his time in the Air Force, Danny received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Psychology from Park College, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Wright State University and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton.  Following his Air Force retirement after 20 years, Danny was employed with several companies as a mechanical engineer.  While traveling and working in various locations around the world, Danny was awarded two patents, maintained a part-time residence in China, and even developed an impressive Mandarin vocabulary. He retired as Vice President of Asian Operations in 2006, and returned to live in Lebanon, Ohio.

Even in retirement, Danny kept himself busy. Over the last 20 years, he has been active in numerous mission projects at Urbancrest Church, volunteered at A Child's Hope, International, and led a team locally in Habitat for Humanity.  Danny was known as a man who never met a stranger.  He loved to tell jokes and stories to all who would listen, and he could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. One of his greatest joys was making children laugh and loved making silly faces at the babies he saw across a restaurant dining room. He enjoyed long walks through the neighborhood with his beloved dog Augie and continued to travel with his wife. He was an avid golfer and Ohio State University football fan, loved reading historical books and doing crosswords.

Danny was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Daniel, and his sisters, Mary Joyce Brewer, Dona Sue Bull, and Barbara Jean Lewis. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Wanda Sue (nee: Manning) Mitchell, his daughters Tracy (Lee) Boris, and Amy (Aric) Newhouse, his daughter-in-law Sherry Mitchell, his sister Dorothy Gail Center, his grandchildren Jessica (Andrew) Triplett, Michael Mitchell, Noah Mitchell, Chloe Mitchell, Zach Boris, and his great- grandchildren Charlotte (Charlie) and Salem.
Danny will be deeply missed, but he packed three lifetimes into his 77 years.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 17th from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM with a Celebration of Life to begin at 11:00 AM, at the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home. Pastor Andrew Trezona will be officiating. For those in attendance, this occasion will be used to honor and celebrate his life, and his family has asked that people feel welcome to come with a brief memory or comment to be shared with his friends and loved ones. Inurnment will take place on Thursday, April 24 at 1 PM in Dayton National Cemetery.