Mitchell Land
Alex Mitchell Land, 99, of Dunlap went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 8, 2016.
He was born and raised on Fredonia Mountain and attended Flat Mountain Baptist Church as a child. He was always ready with a colorful story about life growing up in Sequatchie County in the 20s and 30s.
He volunteered for the U.S. Army in February 1941, ten months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served with the 506thAnti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, attached to a Marine unit, in the Pacific Theatre for the duration of the war. He was part of the Battle of Iwo Jima in February – March 1945, and in recent years talked about the horrors of the battles for the islands. But he remained a proud American and veteran and always supported our troops. He was the oldest WWII veteran in the area.
After the war, Mitchel married “that little Hartman girl”, as he lovingly called her and they eventually settle in Dunlap to raise their family. They have been members of Ewtonville Baptist Church since the 1950s.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Martha Hobbs Land; brothers, Albert, Howard, Fred and Horace; and sisters, Hallie, Ella, Vira, Esther and Maggie.
Mitchel is survived by his wife of 69 years, Reita Bess Hartman Land; daughter, Ann Barker; and sons, Ronnie (Sandra) and Gerald (Janet) Land, all of Dunlap; seven grandchildren, Jeff, Greg, Tim and Garth Land, Susan Barker, Scott Barker, Erin Stewart; two step-grandchildren, Mark Johnson and Amy Huff; 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 11 in the funeral home chapel with Bro. Brian Kearns and Bro. Lanny Tate officiating. Burial was in Chapel Hill Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Sequatchie Valley Honor Guard.
An online guestbook is at www.ewtonfuneralhome.com.
Ewton Funeral Home of Dunlap was in charge of arrangements.
