Mildred A. Smith

Mildred Alois (Cridlebaugh) Smith of Moravia passed away Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Continental Care Center in Seymour, Iowa. She was 93 years, 1 month, and 7 days old. Mildred was born Thursday, January 3, 1918 in Appanoose County to Alva and Lavara (Joiner) Cridlebaugh. She was the oldest sibling, with one brother and two sisters. Her early years were spent on her parents' farm near Centerville. Mildred was a lifelong student and teacher. She graduated from rural Appanoose County Elementary School in 1931 and earned her diploma from Centerville High School in 1935. In its graduation announcement, the Centerville Iowegian announced, "[Mildred] intends to go to college in the future and take up teaching as her profession." She did just that, taking a teaching position south of Moravia at the Denny School, a one-room schoolhouse. She taught there for 4 years. Mildred then realized another dream by marrying the love of her life, Merle Daniel Smith (born January 17, 1917), son of Walter and Grace (Butcher) Smith of Knoxville. As local newspapers announced at the time, "In a single ring service marriage vows were taken at the Methodist Church in Waverly, Iowa, December 16, 1939." Mildred spent the next 17 years working as a wonderful and tireless homemaker and mother. She and Merle first lived in Marysville, later moving to Knoxville. Into their union were born three children, Judith Ann (1941), James "Jim" Edward (1944), and Jay Rex (1949). They moved to a farm near Centerville for 2 years, before settling down permanently in Moravia in 1950. There Merle was a well known local businessman and was once elected city mayor. In 1957 Mildred re-entered teaching. When a rural Scott School teacher became ill, Mildred accepted a substitute teaching position. This led to 22 additional years as an educator. For a number of years she was a first grade teacher in Moravia School. She later became a Title I teacher, working primarily with the first, second and third grades as a remedial and math teacher. She loved teaching, and loved her hundreds of pupils. Stacks of class and student photos, of "Dear Teacher" cards, and of letters sent years later from graduates, bear witness to the impact she had on many young lives. In addition to teaching, Mildred never stopped learning. With the encouragement of her husband and family, she started college classes and graduated from Centerville Community College on May 29, 1962. After nearly 28 years of loving marriage, her dear husband Merle passed away on August 17, 1967. In his final years of failing health, he encouraged her to go on to realize one more of her life dreams, which she did. On August 11, 1972 she graduated from Drake University in Des Moines with a Bachelor of Science in Education. This required a tremendous effort from a recently widowed woman who, in order to attend classes, regularly drove from Moravia to Des Moines and back, while she continued a full-time teaching position in Moravia. In the mid-1960's Merle and Mildred built three apartment buildings, one in Des Moines and two in Centerville. Mildred managed these buildings herself until 2008, and was considered an excellent and caring landlord by her tenants. Mildred finally retired from teaching in 1980 and was presented with a certificate of accomplishment by the Moravia Education Association. The local newspaper interviewed her about her profession and the 26 years she spent as an instructor. Mildred stated, "From early childhood, the only occupation that I ever wanted to follow was teaching, and all through the years I had no desire to enter any other profession." She explained that her philosophy was always to help the child to attain success in his or her endeavors, which she felt would build confidence and ready the pupil to go on to bigger things. She also elaborated, "I have always felt that I wasn't the child's first teacher, but the second. The parents were first. Parents who have love for their children and read, listen and talk to them provide the foundation for learning." This last philosophy was one that she practiced daily with her own children, and with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She showered them with attention, love, and lifetime lessons. She always made birthdays and all holidays treasured family celebrations. After her retirement she remained extremely active with community organizations, church activities, personal hobbies, and occasional substitute teaching. She was a member of Ruritans, Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers, and Taylor Aid. She was also a member of the Grace Methodist Church, and was an active and committed Christian her whole life which she demonstrated each and every day. Quilting by hand was a great joy and creative outlet for her, and she completed over 24 major quilts and many smaller ones, once taking first place in the annual Friends of the Library Quilt Block Contest. Her large gardens were extraordinary, as were her prized grapevines that produced canned jellies that became gifts treasured and enjoyed by many. Fishing was also a lifetime hobby, and photos of her full stringers demonstrate how well she knew just where and what to cast. She loved a good joke, and enjoyed telling funny stories, and her laughter was infectious. Mildred leaves a wonderful memory and a lesson of a life well-lived, and she will be dearly missed by her family, her friends, her hundreds of students, and the community. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sisters Wanda Van Loon and Ruby Davis, both of Des Moines. Surviving to cherish her memory are: her daughter Judith Ann (Russel) Littke (Ankeny); her son James Edward (Lana) Smith (Moravia); her son Jay Rex (Greta) Smith (Blue Eye, MO); her grandchildren John Lofgren (Denver, CO), Warren (Kelcy) Lofgren (Ankeny), Holly (Roger) Hartnett (Clive), Brandon (Amanda) Smith (Moravia), Amanda Jaye Smith (Centerville), Stephanie (Tim) McDill (Pleasantville), Nathan Moore (Exline), Tammy Wells (Centerville), Janet (Darin) Westhoff (Pulaski), and Danielle (Andy) Ward (Des Moines); her 16 great-grandchildren; her brother Paul (Betty) Cridlebaugh (Princeton, MO); as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Tuesday morning, February 15, 2011 at the Lange Funeral Home, Moravia with Pastor Kay Singley officiating. Friends may call all day Monday at the Lange Funeral Home, Moravia with the family present from 5-7pm.. Burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia. A memorial has been established to the Senior Meals or the Hillcrest Cemetery and may be left or mailed to the Lange Funeral Home, 105 Norht John St, Moravia, Iowa 52571. Condolences may be left at www.langefh.com