Robert (Bob) V. Mitchell, CGCS, 88, of Lewisburg, WV went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, FL.

Born November 16, 1930 in West Frankfort, Illinois.

He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Fairlea (FBCF) and served the congregation as a deacon for 43 years.

He attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL for two years and then transferred to Shurtleff College, now known as Southern Illinois University-Alton in Alton, IL, where he earned his BS degree in Business Admin-Accounting.

Bob began his golf course career at the age of 14, working for his father at Franklin County Country Club, West Frankford, IL. His father was a 65-year golf course superintendent himself. Bob's grandfather was also a GCS as well as his oldest son, Rob. They became the first four-generation family of golf course superintendents. His grandfather was never a member of the GCSAA, but the other three were. At one point in time they were the only three-generation members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America GCSAA who achieved the distinguished designation of Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS).

Bob held his first GC Superintendent position in 1950 at the Municipal and Rock Springs Golf Courses, Alton, IL. He moved to Sunset Country Club in St. Louis, MO in 1958, then to Portage Country Club in Akron, OH in 1971, then to The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV in 1973, where he retired in December 1998 after 25 years as Executive Director of Golf and Grounds.

During his tenure at the Greenbrier he hosted many tournaments including the men's 1979 Ryder Cup and the women's 1994 Solheim Cup. He became a Certified GCS in 1969 and in February 2018 the association gave him a special designation of Certified Golf Course Superintendent-Retired.

He was a 66-year member of the GCSAA and in 1972 he served as its President. He was also a member of the United States Golf Association (USGA), and of several Chapter GCSAA including Mississippi Valley, Missouri Valley, Northern Ohio and West Virginia. Bob was the only President of GCSA to have won the GCSAA Golf Championship, which he did in 1954. Bob is leaving a legacy to the world of Golf, the GCSAA, USGA and PGA that will be remembered and treasured by so many who knew and respected him.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Dorcas in 2016, to whom he was happily married for 66 years and by his parents, Mary Esther Mitchell and Vertus Mitchell of St. Louis, MO.

He is survived by sister, Doris June Mosele, 90 of East Alton, IL and brother, James "Dutch" Mitchell, 86 and wife, Pat of Lawrenceville, GA; three children: Robert V. Mitchell, JR, GCS of St. Charles, MO, Rhonda K. Mitchell of Weston, WV, and Mark W. Mitchell (wife, Tricia) of Lewisburg, WV and FL.; two grandchildren: Katherine A. Mitchell of St. Charles, MO and Charles "Trey" H. White III of White Sulphur Springs/Weston, WV.; two step grandchildren: Erin and Chris (wife, Ginny) Hager; and two step great-grandchildren: Gage and Guy Hager.

The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church of Fairlea, WV on Saturday, January 26, 2019 beginning at 11 a.m. followed by a funeral service led by Pastors Dallas Smith and Alvie Edwards. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. All are welcome.

Graveside service will follow the reception at Greenbrier Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to FBCF, 9146 Seneca Trail South, Ronceverte, WV 24970.

The Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.