Published: June 03, 2009 08:57 pm      

Mildred Maddux

After a long battle with ovarian cancer, Mildred Maddux passed away Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the age of 93 years, 2 months and 21 days.  Services for Mildred will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Bailey & Foster Funeral Home in Palestine, Texas with the Rev. Bruce Hay presiding. Interment will follow at the Oakwood City Cemetery in Oakwood, Texas. The family will receive friends Friday, June 5, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mildred Arnold Maddux was born on March 10, 1916 in Goodsprings, Texas to the late Walter and Maude Arnold. The oldest of five children, she graduated from Henderson High School, attended Lon Morris College and Universidad de Puebla of Puebla, Mexico, the first field school for Sam Houston University. Mildred taught school in Carlisle during the year and attended college during the summer terms, graduating with her Master’s degree from Sam Houston University in 1943. During World War II, she taught airmen at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and also in Corpus Christi. Mildred’s college roommate introduced her to a friend from her home town of Oakwood, Doug Maddux. They courted for 11 years, during which he was stationed overseas in Africa and Italy in the U.S. Army for 37 months.  After his return home, they were married on Dec. 30, 1945 at her parents’ home, then lived in Oakwood and later in Palestine. Mildred finished her teaching career at Woodhouse School.

Mildred was a homemaker who enjoyed genealogy, sewing, and gardening in her flowerbeds. A life-long Methodist, Mildred was a member of the Westwood United

Methodist Church, participating in Sunday School and the United Methodist Women’s group. She served as a Sunday School teacher at church and volunteered in Bible School activities during the summer. Mildred was active in community activities, having served as a troop leader in the Girl Scouts, volunteered for the March of Dimes, participated in the garden club, and held many offices in the local PTA. Mildred greatly enjoyed all the time spent with her grandchildren, attending any activity in which they were involved.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Millye and Don Bailey; two grandchildren, Patrick Bailey of Palestine, Texas and Claire Bailey of Yokosuka, Japan; adopted grandson, Octavio Estrada; a sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Basil Tomlinson of Saratoga, Texas; niece, Mary York of Palestine; nephews, Billy Tomlinson of Saratoga, Dean and Don Arnold of Goodsprings, and Gene Arnold of Palestine; many great-nieces and nephews, as well as many friends and loved ones. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.D. “Doug” Maddux, in 1993; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Arnold; her sister, Evelyn Whiteside Love; and two brothers, Howard Arnold and Russell Arnold; and a nephew, David Arnold.

Pallbearers will be Patrick Bailey, Octavio Estrada, Michael Grasty, Clayton Churchman, Dustin Churchman, and Chris Cox.

Memorials may be made to the Palestine Public Library in her memory.

To view online, leave condolences or sign guestbook go to www.baileyandfosterfuneralhome.com