Ramona Mitchell

Ramona Richman Mitchell passed peacefully at her home in Tom the 14th of July, 2025.
In 1939, Ramona moved to Tom with her parents, Mel-Pah and C.R. Richman to ranch and
farm. There she met and married her childhood sweetheart, Ralph M. Mitchell. They dreamed of
travel and new places. After college, Ralph joined the US Navy and served for twenty years
while they raised four children.
During their tour of duty in Yokohama, Japan, Ramona volunteered as a Brownie / Girl Scout
leader and taught conversational English and American literature to Japanese high school and
college students. She worked as a civil servant at Naval Air Station Alameda, California
supporting our troops during the Vietnam War.
It was her father C.R.’s wish that Ralph and Ramona return to their roots and manage the
Richman ranch and farm. They moved home to Tom in 1976 following Ralph’s retirement from
the Navy, and Ramona’s managerial and leadership skills were crucial to the success of the
family business. She was a dedicated mother, but her grandchildren became the supreme joy of
her life and her greatest pleasure.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Lieutenant Commander Ralph Mitchell, USN
(RET); her son, William Russell Mitchell, daughter Melinda Hailey Frey, her son-in-law, Dr.
Walter H. Frey and her grandson, Mitchell Caleb Frey.
She is survived by two daughters; Carla Mitchell (Billy Don Sikes), and Michele Summerlin
(Captain Gene Summerlin, USN (RET); two granddaughters; Katy (Captain Jonathan Baron,
USN), and Emily (Dr. Lance Forshee).
A private service will be held at a later date. As an avid reader, Ramona would be pleased by
contributions to the Idabel Public Library. Online messages may be sent to the family at
https://www.clardyfuneralservice.com/obituary/Ramona-Mitchell .

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ramona Mitchell, please visit our floral store.