 Married for over 57 years at the time of the Congressman's death in 2003, the Mitchells had three children — Gretchen, Cynthia, and Allen — and two grandchildren, Susan and Lisa.During World War II, Mitchell served as a carrier-based fighter pilot in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1945.An avid pilot in private life, Dr. Mitchell re-enlisted in the Navy in 1951, and served as a Naval Flight Instructor in Pensacola, Florida, from 1951–1953, during the Korean War.