Mildred C. Allen

Mildred Center Allen was born in Enon, Arkansas February 15, 1933, to James Massie Center and Eunice Marie Dotson.  She passed from the earthly realm to meet her heavenly father on October 3, 2025. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 69 years John W. (Dub), and siblings Patsy, Carl, Riley, Bill, and Jack.  She is survived by her sons John W. (Bill) and wife Frances, Andrew, Timothy and wife Marlene and daughter Joyce “Cissy”;  step grandchildren Elizabeth and husband John Clark, Diana Parisey, and Cynthia Benavidez; grandchildren Mathew and wife Kara, John III, Thomas,  Blayne and wife Bridgitt; step great grandchildren Logan Donato (and his children Kayleigh and Reese), Chase Green, Bryce Benavidez and wife Maisol (child Hazel), Claire Benavidez, Dillon Benavidez, great grandchildren Mia-Jo, Miles, Kieryn, Kooper, John IV, Wayne and Lucille.

 Mildred, an educator for 40+ years, taught in a few South Texas schools with Cotulla being the last and the longest at 22 years.  The schoolroom wasn't the only place she was involved with youth.  Mildred taught 4H foods and nutrition, clothing, photography and even did arts and crafts through 4H as an afterschool program.  As a young mother she taught vacation bible school and as an older mother she was the “cookie lady” at vacation bible school.

In her church, Mildred took her God given talent of teaching and applied it to her own peers and taught women her own age.  This was different from working with the youth.  She also became the “head of the kitchen” later changed to chairperson of hospitality, known to be able to throw any kind of meal together in 30 minutes.

After retirement, when most people slow down, Mildred seemed to just get started.  The Woman’s Club of Cotulla became a priority with her.  Their mission of volunteering is one she had lived by most of her life, and it fit her purpose.  Some years it seemed like she was the only one keeping it going.  She became club president (8 years over 4 different times) and district president.  She sat on several state committees, even when she couldn’t drive to them and her daughter had to drive her. In 2019, GFWC Texas awarded Mildred clubwoman volunteer of the year for all her volunteer work. 

Mildred also helped tremendously at the La Salle County Fair Association with the Food Show and the Wild Hog Cook Off.  She was a fixture around the grounds and often the cookoff teams or bakers could be seen talking to her.

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church of Cotulla, Woman’s Club of Cotulla Scholarship Foundation or the LaSalle County Fair Association Scholarship Fund.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Peters Funeral Home from 5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 10:00a.m. at the First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at the Cotulla Southwest Cemetery.