Lt. Col. Mitchell M. Mickel, 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, after a long illness.  He was born March 25, 1922, in Kfeir, Lebanon. He is the first son of the late Abe and Nahia Mickel of Williamson.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Thabet Mickel; daughter, Sharman Mickel of Charleston; and daughter, Denise M. Russell, son-in-law, Ronald Russell, and grandchildren, Melaina Russell and Garrett Russell, all of Richmond, Va. He is also survived by his brothers, Alex Mickel of Richmond, Virginia, and Fred Mickel; sister, Gloria Bevins of Williamson; and many other relatives.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army in Anzio, Italy, during World War II, where he received a Purple Heart. Mitchell graduated from Williamson High School and received a bachelor of science degree in economics from West Virginia University. He received his commission to the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel after 26 years of military service. After retirement from the Air Force, Mitchell worked for the Internal Revenue Service and later worked for the Office of Personnel Management. He was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral, the U.S. Veterans Officers Club, the American Legion, Beni Kedem Temple, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the National Retired Federal Employees. 

Mitchell will be buried with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., on his birthday, March 25, 2008. 

A Tribute to Mitchell Mickel
As many of you know, Mitchell Mickel served on the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation Board of Directors for many years. He served as treasurer and chairman and then as secretary for the scholarship program for quite some time. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mitchell for his dedication, service and commitment to the Kfeirian Reunion. On behalf of the Board of Directors, may we extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Linda and the family. May God grant Mitchell peace and may his memory be eternal.