Feb. 2, 1934 – Aug. 17, 2026
The mission has lost a precious gem in Claudia Mitchell, whom the Lord called home on Monday, August 17. In her 77 years spent around the mission of Young Life, she touched countless lives through her sweet spirit, kind encouragement, and faithful prayers. Claudia (Garrett) became involved with Young Life at 15, during her sophomore year at North Dallas High School, where she was active in club, Campaigners, and camp. In 1954, she married Bob “Mitch” Mitchell, who would go on to hold practically every role in Young Life, including serving as the mission’s president from 1977-1986. The couple proved to be a perfect match, serving in the mission for four decades.
Claudia met Bob when she was a college freshman and he was a speaker at the all-city Young Life club at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. The two started dating, eventually working together at Star Ranch, Young Life’s camp in Colorado Springs, prior to becoming engaged. Claudia shared some favorite memories from that summer in 1953.
“One of the things we did every week was take 100 kids up in their tennis shoes(!) to climb to the top of the Kissing Camels rock in the Garden of the Gods. Other days we’d take them ice skating at the Broadmoor Ice Palace. Or at two in the morning we’d wake up all the kids who wanted to go and drove them to the top of Pikes Peak to see the sunrise. I’m not sure we could do those things now!”
She spent countless hours helping Bob establish other camps like Frontier Ranch, Malibu Club, and Woodleaf, in their early years. The Mitchells even spent their honeymoon at Malibu during its inaugural summer.
Alongside Bob, Claudia served in Young Life first in Colorado Springs, Colorado, then began the work in the San Francisco Bay Area, and finally moved back to Colorado. When their own kids started high school, they began a Young Life club in Monument.
During and after Bob’s presidency, Claudia was also highly involved in several missionwide task forces and committees. Through these varied causes, she was influential in discussions on exploring women’s roles in the mission; developing and growing our urban ministries; and continuing to focus attention on church relations.
When Bob left Young Life staff in 1990, neither he nor Claudia slowed down their efforts on behalf of the mission. Like her husband, Claudia had a heart for our international work, and all the staff and volunteers who followed in the Mitchells’ footsteps. Last month, Claudia sat down with Susan Crenshaw, wife of current Young Life president, Newt, for a time of conversation and prayer. When asked why she believes Young Life has flourished for over 85 years with the Lord’s blessing, Claudia didn’t hesitate.
“It’s because Young Life leaders continue to give a captivating message of who Jesus is, and make him come alive off the pages. Who he is, what he’s done, and what he’s offering to individuals — to be incorporated into this life with the Trinity. It’s so powerful because these leaders are the living expression of the Light and the Life, and the message comes through his servants and their faithfulness.”
Claudia and Bob were married for 66 years (three days shy of their 67th anniversary), when Bob went home to be with the Lord on May 19, 2021. Claudia is survived by her daughter, Tamara, and son, Tim, and extended family.
