Robert Thomas Mitchell, 84, of Cropwell, AL, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025, surrounded by family. He was born July 14, 1941, to the late Milton Mitchell and Ada Hollingsworth Mitchell Wilder in Dry Valley, AL. 

Robert (aka Bobby, Mitch) graduated from Lincoln High school at the age of 16. He was drafted as a pitcher by the Chicago Cubs, but his mom thought he wasn’t old enough to go to Chicago on his own. Mitch was known for his love for the railroad. He started working for Southern Railway in 1964 and retired from Norfolk Southern Railway in 2000 after 37 years of service. He then became a contractor for Balfour-Beatty and continued to do railroad work for the state of California and CSX Railroad. He was known for authoring an extensive Signal and Electrical training manual and taught those classes all over the railroad for years. 

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Milton Mitchell and Ada Hollingsworth Mitchell Wilder. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Elizabeth Phillips Mitchell, his children, Rhonda (Ken) Mason, and Robert (aka Tommy) Mitchell, Jr.; his grandchildren, Nathan Mitchell (Sarah), Nolan Mitchell (Alyssa), and Ashton Mitchell, Kristie Mason and Karlie Cotter (Chandler); great granddaughter Elora Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews. Serving as pallbearers will be David Phillips, Johnny Ray Phillips, Greg Phillips, Nathan Mitchell, Nolan Mitchell, Todd Williamon, Patrick Williamon, and Richard Stapleton.

Services will be held at Eastaboga Baptist Church on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Jeremy Tuioloega will officiate the services. The family will welcome visitors beginning at 11am, followed by the service at noon. Burial to immediately follow. Lunch will be served following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Usrey Funeral Home, Talladega, AL.