Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1995 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 139APPENDIXMEMORIAL FOR REV. H. WALDO MITCHELThe Rev. H. Waldo Mitchel was born July 23, 1906, in Winchester, Ks.His parents were William W. and Anna Coulter Dill Mitchel. He had onesister and two brothers. One brother died at an early age. He grew up inthe Winchester area, attending grade school and high school there. He joinedthe Winchester R.P. Church as a boy of 12 in 1918. When he was 13 yearsold he was stricken with "polio" and had to use crutches for a number ofyears. Then after an operation he was able to walk without the crutches butalways with some limitations.After finishing High School, Waldo went to Highland College there inKansas, for two years. He then went to Geneva College, in Beaver Falls, Pa.for the rest of his college career, graduating in the Class of 1928 with a B.A.Degree.Waldo entered the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa.that Fall (1928). He was under the care of Kansas Presbytery. He waslicensed to preach the Gospel May 21,1930, and a year later graduatedfrom the Seminary and was ordained and installed in the Stafford R.P.Church, Stafford, Ks. June 6,1931.He served in several congregations over the next 46 years of his activeministry. He was married to Esther Sanderson June 15, 1932, after he hadbeen in Stafford a year. Later they moved from Stafford (released Nov.8,1937) to Sparta, IL, where they served from Nov. 30, 1937, to Oct. 17,1945. Then they moved to Blanchard, IA, where they served from Nov.12, 1945, to Jan. 15, 1952. Their next field of service was the Lake RenoCongregation, near Glenwood, MN, where they served from May 2, 1952,through Mar. 5, 1957. They then moved to Walton, N.Y. where theyserved from Mar. 29, 1957, through Feb. 12, 1972. At that time theymoved to Cambridge, MA, and were there from Apr. 28, 1972, throughNov. 30, 1977.The time had come for Waldo to retire from the active pastorate and heand Esther moved to Topeka, KS where he continued to preach in variouscongregations in the area for about 10 years.Now we need to go back and say that after their marriage in June, 1932,there were four children born to them over the years. Marjorie Ann Russell,Jean McFarland, Paul and Robert Mitchel completed the family. There arealso 10 grandchildren.They were all very special to Waldo and Esther.Other items of interest in his life: Waldo served as Assistant Clerk ofSynod from 1953 through 1960. He received an honorary degree fromGeneva College in 1963. He was moderator of Synod in 1968. He editedthe Religious news page of the Covenanter Witness 1960-63. He served wellon several Boards and Committees of Synod and of the various Presbyterieswhere they lived. After retirment he was elected a Ruling Elder of the