Alta Mae Groff Mitchell age 75 of Wytheville, VA, formerly of Jolo, WV, went to be with our Lord and Saviour on July 6, 2020 at Wythe County Hospital after suffering from a very long illness.
She was born on September 22, 1944 in Ephrata, PA (Lancaster County). She was the youngest daughter of Samuel and Stella Brubaker Groff of Lincoln, PA. She was of the Mennonite Faith and later converted over to the Lutheran Faith. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bluefield, WV. She was a homemaker, secretary, and a plant worker before becoming disabled. She lived in WV most of her adult life until moving to Wytheville, VA to make her home with her daughter, Patty and son-in-law, Carl Lee Suthers. She resided with them for ten years.
Left behind is her only child, Patty (Patricia Ann) Mitchell Beavers Suthers and her son-in-law, Carl Lee Suthers of Wytheville, VA. Patty is formerly of Jolo, WV. Grandchildren are Johnnie (John) Eugene Beavers Jr. of Grundy, VA; Joshua Emory Beavers and wife Roxanne of Christiansburg VA, Justin Eric Beavers and fiancé Onshawn Belcher of Welch, WV, great grandchildren Chelsea (Sea-Bea) Marie Beavers of Grundy, VA, Cameron Michael Kelly, Jensen (J-Bug) Elijah Beavers and Adaline (Adi-Cakes) Mae Beavers all of Christiansburg, VA, Cheyenne (C-Ann), Ida-Marie Beavers of Welch, WV; two step grandsons, Cliff Suthers and Tyler and wife Melinda Suthers all of Wytheville, VA. A honorary grandson, Austin Horne, Cheyenne’s mother is Jessi Beavers Payne of Yukon, WV, Chelsea’s mother is Andria (Ladybug) Gibson of Grundy, VA, and several nieces and nephews on the Mitchell side and several cousins mostly in PA with Mildred Steinmetz and Thelma Martin her favorites on her parents side. Her favorite lifelong best friend was Gloria Hauck from PA.
She loved bird watching and music with oldies and gospel being her favorites. She enjoyed flowers and their beauty. She was an avid cook and baker with Pennsylvania Dutch being her favorite. She was a member of the 4-H in high school where she won numerous first and second place ribbons especially at the county level. She collected hundreds of cookbooks in her life. She was very proud to display them and to share her recipes with others. It touched her heart to teach young women to cook.
Besides her parents she is preceded in death by her only sister, Anna Elizabeth Groff, R.N. of Lancaster County, PA, her former husband James Mitchell of Jolo, WV and her first son-in-law, Johnny Beavers Sr of Jolo, WV. Special thanks to Dr. John Harkless and staff, the staff at Mount Rogers and Brandon and Miss Mary and the staff of WalGreens all of Wytheville, VA.
A day service will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2020 with immediate family only from 12 to 1 p.m. and friends and remaining family may call from 1-2 p.m. Services at 2 p.m. Rev. Dr. Thomas Conley and Synod Authorized minister Cathy Cregger Saddler officiating. Burial will follow in the Mitchell Family Cemetery, Wolfpen Hollow, Jolo, WV. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.
Services will be held at the Chapel of Fanning Funeral Home in Iaeger, WV. Following the Covid 19 guidelines a mask is to be worn and social distancing practiced.
Fanning Funeral home of Iaeger, WV is assisting the family at their time of need.