NASHUA, N.H. – Vernon Q. Mitchell, 84, formally of Plaistow and Atkinson, died recently at his home in Nashua. He was 84. Born June 1, 1929, in Sacramento, Cal., he was the son of Helen G. Lehr and Hazen Q. Mitchell, both of whom predeceased him. He was the stepson of John Lehr, who also predeceased him. Mr. Mitchell was a master chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1947 to 1967. He served on several naval vessels, the most notable of which was the USS Nautilus, the nation’s first nuclear submarine. He was chief of the boat, “COB,” on that submarine. He also served during the Korean War. Mr. Mitchell was honored by the Navy for saving a submarine and its crew after the vessel developed mechanical problems and sank deep into the ocean. He was credited with making critical decisions that allowed the submarine to begin operating properly and return to the surface. With his death, he joins his fellow Nautilus crew members who have also passed and are known among Nautilus alumni as being on “eternal patrol.”He was a member of the American Legion for more than 25 years. He was also a member of the USS Nautilus Alumni Association.Mr. Mitchell spent much of his youth in St. Louis, where he attending high school before joining the Navy. He was an avid baseball fan, and watched enthusiastically in 1944 as the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns met in the World Series. While in the Navy, he learned how to operate Ham radios, and adopted that activity as a hobby after his retirement from military service.After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Mitchell worked for Raytheon in Rhode Island, before moving his family to Southern New Hampshire. There, he worked for Sanders Associates before that company became BAE Systems, where he continued to work before retiring at the age of 83 after 43 years of service.One of Mr. Mitchell’s greatest pleasures was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren during cookouts, birthday parties, holidays and other family events.Mr. Mitchell also enjoyed decades of skydiving and motorcycle riding with family and friends. His most notable adventures included a motorcycle trip with his son to the top of Mt. Washington and skydiving with his granddaughter when he was 82 years old. He also enjoyed traveling to destinations such as Hawaii, taking his family on trips across the country and going on cruises to a variety of tropical islands. He enjoyed reading, especially books about the Navy.Mr. Mitchell is survived by a daughter, Marlene L. Mitchell of Shingle Springs, Cal. a son, Benton “Mike” White and his wife Carolee of Raymond, N.H., their children Meghan White, Andrea White and her fiancé Jeremy Reid, Jessica Kroski and her husband Christopher and their children Kennedi and Kiley and Jay White a daughter, Joyce Monteiro of Bradford, Mass. a daughter Rene’ D. Cantwell and her husband William of Haverhill, Mass., and their children Jennifer Cantwell and Benjamin Cantwell a daughter Marlene B. Mitchell of North Andover, Mass., and her children Rachel Wilkes and Daniel Wilkes a daughter Marie Chamberlin of California, and her son Christopher Steele and his two children and a son, Joseph Martinelli of California. He also leaves several nieces and nephews, some of whom live in Greater Haverhill and Southern New Hampshire.Friends and family are respectfully invited to call tomorrow, (Thursday) from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (Rte 125), Haverhill, MA. A private funeral service will be held at a later date.Donations can be made to the Veterans North East Outreach Center, 65 Cedar St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook, or www.comeaufuneral.com
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