Neshaminy Graduate Who Died During Navy Training Laid To Rest

U.S. Navy Ensign Sarah Mitchell was laid to rest Friday afternoon surrounded by friends, family, and members of the armed services.

The remains of Mitchell, a 2013 graduate of Neshaminy High School, were escorted by area emergency responders from St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lower Southampton to Rosedale Memorial Park in Bensalem. Firefighters from Bensalem and Middletown used their ladder trucks to create an arch for the funeral motorcade to pass under along Richlieu Road.

Mitchell, 23, died earlier this month at a hospital in Aqaba, Jordan, after she sustained injuries during a small boat training. She was assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham.

In the days following Mitchell’s death, a Navy official said there was no indication of foul play. The investigation into the ensign’s death remains active.

Mitchell, who was engaged to David Collins of Langhorne, grew up in Lower Southampton’s Feasterville section and played on Neshaminy High School’s basketball, track and field, and field hockey teams. She was a 2017 graduate of Virginia Tech.

“Our loss of Sarah has been absolutely devastating to our family. She was pursuing her dreams and we are so proud of her positive impact and all that she accomplished. We want to thank everyone for their outpouring of support and the efforts of many to help us bring her home with proper honors,” Mitchell’s family said in a statement released to LevittownNow.com.

“‘Joy’ was an appropriate middle name for Sarah. She claimed a special place in the hearts of so many people. She was fun and fun-loving; always up for a good time with friends and family. Sarah was looking forward to her wedding to the love of her life and best friend, Dave. She was excited about serving as maid of honor for her older sister, Kristi, in February 2019. Sarah was an inspiration to her younger sister, Jillian and enjoyed providing older sister criticism,” Mitchell’s obituary reads.

On Wednesday morning, police from multiple departments escorted Mitchell’s remains from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to Pennsylvania.

Mitchell’s family said that in lieu of flowers, donations in the ensign’s name can be made to the Fisher House Foundation, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852.