Extracted from The Daily Gazette (Xenia, OH)
Friday, February 25, 2005

Mildred Howard Mims

Mildred Howard Mims, of Xenia, died February 23, 2005 of stomach cancer. She was 82.

Born on October 24, 1922 in Woodford County KY. She graduated from Versailles High School in 1941. She attended business school in Lexington KY before moving to Dayton OH during WWII. Both during and after the war she was employed at Defense Electronic Supply Center (DESC) in Dayton. She and her husband, John Mims, met at Wright Field during WWII and were wed in April 1945. They have lived in Xenia since 1946 and at their current residence since 1952. She was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Mims is survived by her husband, John W. Mims of Xenia; their daughter, Nancye Mims, son-in-law Christopher Reeve, and 2 grandchildren, Gabrielle and Kyle Reeve, all of Brookline MA; step granddaughters, Margaret Reeve of Chicopee MA, Kate Spire of Durham NC, and Lydia Spire, a great granddaughter. She is also survived by 4 brothers, John Allen Howard of Frankfort OH, R.D. Howard of Georgetown KY, Charles Howard of Hallendale FL, and Joe Howard of Salvisa KY.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Lena Phillips Howard, and her father, John Wallace Howard, as well as a brother who died in infancy, Bobby Gay Howard. Her brother, Elmo, a crew-member aboard the USS Arizona, was killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She was also preceded in death by a brother, James Howard and a sister, Marion Gilmore, formerly of Xenia.

She leaves numerous nieces and nephews in OH, KY, and MS. She is also survived by 3 great nieces, Sarah Beth, Valerie and Alison Mallow, and a great nephew, Jeremy Mallow all of New Richmond OH.

Mrs. Mims and her family are especially grateful to her caregiver, Bev Umstead of Jamestown and Hospice of Dayton, as well as many friends and neighbors for their kindness and generosity.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton OH 45240-1885 or hospiceofdayton.com.

Services will be held at 10am March 1, 2005 at Neeld Funeral Home, 1276 N. Detroit St., Xenia OH with Rev Conley Zomermaand and Rev Dale Hayes officiating.

Visitation will be held 6-8pm February 28, 2005. Burial will be at Woodland Cemetery, Xenia.