Mitchell Axford Goodfriend, 65, of Enterprise, Alabama, passed away on June 3, 2026, in Dothan. He was born December 6, 1960, in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, to Cecil Thomas and Jane Axford Goodfriend, who predeceased him. He spent his childhood on the move before the family settled in New Orleans.
Mitchell served 22 years in the United States Army as an air traffic controller, retiring as a Sergeant First Class. He was proud to shoulder responsibilities beyond his rank. He went on to spend 20 more years as a civilian instructor, teaching soldiers tower control and helping train hundreds of controllers. He took pride in his work, mentioning to his son how well his students were doing.
He was hands-on and competitive. He loved gadgets and automating his home, and hated to lose — even at a friend’s Fitbit step count.
Above all, Mitchell was devoted to his family. He married Hwaseon on March 29, 1986, and with every move the Army asked of them, he was her guide, finding and sharing what made each new home special. No one could make her laugh the way he could — his jokes gentle, observant, and always playful. For 40 years, he was the love of her life and her best friend.
He was also a friend to his son, Scott — they traveled, hiked, played games, and commiserated over the long-suffering New Orleans Saints. He was endlessly proud of Scott, and his friends heard about it constantly. He cared for his own father in his later years. He doted on his twin grandchildren, flying to California to help whenever he could, once on a day’s notice.
He is survived by his wife, Hwaseon; his son, Scott, and daughter-in-law, Aditi; his sister, Deirdre; and his two grandchildren, Fiona and Dylan.
The family will receive friends from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 8, 2026, at Sunset Funeral Home, followed by a celebration of his life at 4:30 p.m. with military honors. He will be laid to rest at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery.
Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com
