Mildred Viola Sutherland Goetsch

1923 - 2014

Mildred Goetsch passed away on 14 June 2014 in Denison, Texas, at the age of 91. She was born to Albert Barker Sutherland and Ada Lee Brown Sutherland on 19 March 1923 at her grandparents' house in New Albany, Indiana. Raised on the family farm in Payneville, Kentucky, she was educated in a 2-room schoolhouse.

During the devastating Ohio River flood of 1937, the family became separated, and it was days before they learned that all members of the family had survived thanks to the kindness of strangers who took them in. During WWII, Mildred returned to the New Albany area and worked at the dangerous job of hand-packing ammunition for the war effort.

Following the war, she traveled to Houston, Texas, to visit her cousin, Alice Mulkins, who had just had her first child. What began as a visit turned into a permanent residence change after Mildred met and married the young man who lived across the street from her cousin.

Mildred married Lawrence Theodore Goetsch on 25 December 1946. They had two daughters, Carol and Linda · Mildred and Lawrence resided in Houston TX; Spartanburg SC; Austin TX; Corpus Christi TX, and Denison TX. During their 63 years of marriage, Mildred and Lawrence worked together as piano technicians; owned and operated music stores; and created sheltered workshops for the blind/ handicapped.

Mildred also served as an American Red Cross volunteer for many years in the first aid station at numerous community events and hurricane disasters; she could also be found working at the polls on election days.

Mildred Goetsch was preceded in death by her parents (Albert and Ada Sutherland), two brothers (Roy Sutherland and Alfred Sutherland), one sister (Leona Mae Sutherland Frans), her husband (Lawrence Goetsch), and her great grandson (Gabriel Goshorn).

For 70 years, Mildred kept a picture on her bedroom wall of her cousin, Edward Carver - he preceded her in death on 13 July 1944 inthe hedgerows of France during the Normandy Invasion. Nearly a decade earlier, Edward risked his life to save Mildred from drowning when she fell into the Ohio River -he didn't hesitate, he just jumped in after her. Edward never had the chance to have a family of his own to carry the memory of him, but because of his heroism, Mildred did, so she would point to the picture on the wall and tell his story to make sure her children and grandchildren remembered him.

Mildred is survived by her two daughters (Carol Goshorn and Linda Goetsch); a son-in- law whom she loved like a son (Tony Matthews); three grandchildren (Dawn Goshorn, Rebecca Goshorn and Samuel Goshorn); and four great grandchildren (Seth Goshorn, Alyssa Goshorn, and twins Lance and Logan Thomas).

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Brookside Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to a charity or church of your choosing.