Kenneth Edward Mitchum

Dr. Kenneth Edward Mitchum

Kenneth Mitchum, 85, of Pittsboro, NC was called home to his Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at The Arbor of Galloway Ridge. He was born to Charles Graham and Gradie Edwards Mitchum in Monroe, NC on March 24, 1938.  Ken was predeceased by his devoted wife of fifty-five years, Jeanie Mitchum, his parents, his brother, Cecil Mitchum, his sister-in-law, Mary Mitchum, and brother-in-law, Bill Walton.

In 1956, Ken graduated from Walter Bickett High School in Monroe, where he joined the US Naval Reserves during his junior year. After graduation, he proudly served on active duty for two years, mainly in the Special Weapons Unit on the USS Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier.  After his discharge from the Navy, Ken attended Wingate Junior College for one year before transferring to UNC Chapel Hill, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and was inducted into the Alpha Epsilon Delta National Premedical Honor Society. He later earned a DDS degree at the top of his class, from the UNC School of Dentistry in 1965, where he was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society as well as the Delta Sigma Delta International Fraternity.

After graduating from Dental School, Ken joined the faculty in the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics at UNC, where he taught for 3 years. During that time, he received a Doris Duke Fellowship and continued his education in the Department of Periodontology, where he taught an additional two years before entering private practice as a periodontist in Durham, NC in the early 1970s. As a periodontist, Ken often shared how much he enjoyed working with his staff, family of patients, and associate, Dr. Mason Cox, for many years before retiring to his Chatham County farm in 1992.  In his retirement, Kenneth spent many years with Jeanie, the love of his life, until her death in 2017.

Ken is remembered as a loyal friend and neighbor. He was a generous family patriarch and had a passion for raising beagles and training them to “run rabbits” on his farm. In his retirement, Ken often traveled with his beagles to participate in AKC field trial competitions.

Fondly known as “Doc” in his community, church, and home, Ken was blessed to be part of a large loving Christ-centered family his entire life, which included eleven grandchildren in his latter years. Both Ken and Jeanie modeled a strong faith and love for Jesus Christ to their children and grandchildren.

Ken is survived by three sons Marc and wife, Jodie of Wanchese, NC; Paul and wife, Jeanette of Pittsboro, NC;  and Joe and wife, Anna of Emerald Isle, NC; sister Lorraine Walton of Monroe, NC; sister-in-law Teka Mitchum of Matthews, NC; brothers Gerald Mitchum and wife Frances of Southern Pines, NC and Larry Mitchum of Baton Rouge, LA; eleven grandchildren; Mark Etheridge and wife Alli, Scott Etheridge and wife Cole, Daniel Mitchum, Wesley Mitchum, Nathan Mitchum and wife Sara, Harry Mitchum, Oliver Mitchum, Kathleen Mitchum, Emma Mitchum, Anna Claire Mitchum, Isabella Mitchum; one great grandchild, Christopher Etheridge, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ken’s life will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Brown’s Chapel United Methodist Church, conducted by Pastors Mamie Alley and Ray Gooch. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive visitors in the church fellowship hall after burial.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Brown’s Chapel UMC Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 1543, Pittsboro, NC  27312.

Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com.

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Mitchum family.