Wally passed away Wednesday evening, May 11, 2022, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, Ks. He was 83 years young.

Wally was born May 18, 1938, in Ottawa, Ks the son of Joseph Holt and Mary Ailene (Thomas) Mitchell.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959. In September 1959 he was married to Rebecca Leigh Brittingham in Ottawa, Ks. To this union they were blessed with three children. Wally and Rebecca were later divorced.

On December 8, 1991, he married Betty Jane (Fisher) Roberts at their home in Princeton, KS. In 2008 they moved to Burlington KS where he resided until his death.

Wally worked for Willis Nursery, Ottawa Co-Op, where he was lucky enough to get to change light bulbs in the star on top of the grain elevator, along with other duties. He also worked building houses for Carl Thompson, and Arlie Hildebrandt. Wally was an over the road truck driver for Donahue Trucking, Elite, and John Volk just to name a few. He enjoyed going hunting, fishing, camping, singing silly songs and always had a joke or story to share.

Wally was preceded in death by both his parents, three sisters, Margie Johnston, Melba Tull, and Cleda Finch, two brothers Arthur Gale Mitchell, and David Eugene (Gene) Mitchell, a son-in-law, Jerry Turner. His daughter, Karen Lynn Turner, passed away shortly after Wally on Wednesday evening at Columbia, MO.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, one daughter, Elizabeth Anne (Kenny) Howard of Ottawa, one son Ricky Dale Mitchell of Westphalia, KS. Three stepdaughters, Debi (Robert) Bahr of LeRoy, KS, Vicki Edwards of Burlington, KS, Elizabeth (Beth) Beardsley of Emporia, KS, one step-son Rolland (Lisa) Edwards Jr. of Waverly, KS, also 14 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Memorials can be sent to Coffey County Cancer Society in Burlington, KS or University of Kansas, St. Francis Campus, in Topeka, KS

Memorial graveside services will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, KS.