Obituary of David Forney Mitchell

Dr. David Forney Mitchell, VMD, age 62, passed away at home near Little Cooley, January 12, 2015. He was born September 27, 1952 to the late Forney C. and Arlene Hjort Mitchell in Bradford, PA. He graduated from Meadville Area High School in 1970 and from Penn State University, State College campus with a B.S. in Animal Science December of 1973. He went on to Veterinary School at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, graduating in 1978. He completed a residency in Avian Medicine and Pathology in 1980. After residency, he began his professional career at DeKalb Ag Research as veterinary technical service for their poultry division, helping to manage their breeder flocks and providing technical assistance for egg producers utilizing the DeKalb line of leghorns. After 3 years he went with ASL (American Scientific Laboratories) to oversee the development and utilization of poultry and mink vaccines. In 1985 he accepted a position with a large, integrated poultry company, PRONACA, based in Quito, Ecuador where he became lead veterinarian, overseeing the management of both breeder and production flocks for broilers, egg layers and turkeys. He returned to the states and worked for American Cyanamid, providing veterinary technical service to their poultry vaccine division. During his career, he travelled extensively, nationally & internationally. He especially loved traveling internationally to experience other cultures and educate them on poultry management. After moving from Siloam Springs, Arkansas to the Meadville area, he finished his professional career with the USDA, FSIS (food safety inspection service) as a veterinary supervisor for the Northwest PA district, overseeing the inspection of custom slaughters and meat products for public consumption. Over the years he has made many volunteer trips for Winrock & Farmer to Farmer programs, traveling to Africa, Asia, Nepal, Turkmenistan, Khyrkistan, and various other locales to educate developing countries about hatcheries and live production of poultry so they were better equipped to be able to feed themselves. He believed in the adage “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he’ll feed himself for a lifetime.” He enjoyed getting things done. He usually had a home improvement project going and liked doing things himself, being extremely self-sufficient. He was an avid reader and runner & remained active until cancer took his strength. David is survived by his wife of 34 years, Mildred “Millie” Ann Schafer Mitchell and two sons, Levi Garrett Mitchell of Meadville, PA and Luke Remington Mitchell and companion Marina Zambrotta of Philadelphia, PA. He is also survived by two sisters, Judith Emig of Cochranton, PA and Karen Lynn of Cleveland, OH and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their appreciation for the patient, compassionate care he received at Yolanda Barco Cancer Center, MMC, and Hospice of Crawford County. No public calling hours will be observed. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. The family asks that memorials be made to any chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund or to the Yolanda Barco Cancer Center 16792 Conneaut Lake Rd. Meadville, PA 16335. The Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville, PA is in charge of arrangements. If you wish to leave a condolence for the family, go to garrettfuneralhomeinc.com