Mildred Beggs

Mildred Adelle Beggs

Resident of Santa Cruz

Beloved mother of six, grandmother of ten, and great-grandmother of two slipped from her family's embrace in the early morning hours of Sept. 8, 2010 at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz after a brief illness.

Mildred was born Oct. 5, 1923 in Denver, Colorado to Robert and Mildred Stouder. After her mother's death during the birth of Mildred's brother Robert Stouder, Mildred's father remarried and Mildred welcomed brother Philip Comstock and sister Jane Bleckley (n‚e Stouder) into her life. During the Great Depression, Mildred's family moved to Alton, Illinois where she graduated from Alton Community Consolidated High School in 1941. She went on to Gradwohl School of Laboratory Technique in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1942. She used her skills at Presnell Hospital in Kennett, Missouri, 1942-44. In 1944 she heeded her country's call to serve in the U.S. Navy during WWII and provided care to our nation's wounded as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) until her discharge in 1946. She then entered Denver University and met and married Gordon (in 1948) while both were students there.

They settled in Denver for a brief time before convincing Grandpa John Parker (who lived with them) to head west for the San Francisco bay area. Mildred taught school (mostly kindergarten) in the Sunnyvale and Cupertino school districts for 25 years before retiring in 1983 and moving to Santa Cruz in 1985. Mildred and Gordon began their large family of six children in 1949. Despite such a large family and modest teacher's salaries, the Beggs family traveled the U.S. and the world, including cramped journeys around Europe in a camper van and many camping trips to the mountains or beach. Mildred possessed an extraordinary "green thumb" and enjoyed working in the family fuchsia business after retirement, and in her backyard garden well into her later years.

Her children called her "Mom" and "Grandma", a tribute to the many roles she so lovingly played in everyone's lives. She was especially loved by her grandchildren for her many talents, because she created incredibly elaborate and themed birthday cakes, because her lap always had room for one more, and simply because some of mom and dad's rules didn't apply when at grandma's. The cookie jar was always full and nap time never came. Her patience and her love knew no limits. There was always room for one more (or ten more) at the table. She was the embodiment of benevolence.

Mildred was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Gordon C. Beggs and her oldest daughter Debbie Beggs Lyon and her brother Philip Comstock. Mildred is survived by her brother Robert Stouder of Escondido, CA, sister Jane Bleckley of So. Carolina; children Susan (Scott) Detro, John (Jane) Beggs, Thomas (Lilian) Beggs, Anne Beggs, and Jennifer (David) Beebe; grandchildren Eric (Sheila) and Michael Lyon, Brian and Kevin Beggs, Emily and JT Beggs, Lauren and Kelly Detro, and Ben (Tarin) and Chris Beebe; great-grandchildren Isis and Eric Lyon Jr. and many nieces and nephews. The family is eternally grateful to all of Mildred's dear friends at the Mid-County Senior Center in Santa Cruz.

A celebration of Mildred's life will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at the Cupertino Union Church, 20900 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino, CA, 95014. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sempervirens Fund (www.sempervirens.org) or to the charity of your choice (she had many favorites).

A Family Blessing

Lord, bless the family that I love

And comfort them each day -

As daytime turns to nighttime

Please bring them peace I pray.

When morning comes tomorrow,

Let all their cares be small. . .

Guide them with your wisdom,

Lord, bless them one and all.

- author unknown