Mildred Louise Blanton

Mildred Louise Blanton 1916-2005 In loving memory of our mother, Mildred Louise Blanton, who departed this life on December 22, 2005 at the home of her daughter in Abilene, Texas. A private memorial service for the family will be held at a later date. Mildred was born on December 21, 1916 in Annona, Texas to Pat S. Russell and Lottie Renick Russell. She grew up in Annona and graduated from Annona High School in 1934. Subsequently, she attended college in Marshall, Texas. As America entered the Second World War, she married Ben Edward Blanton from Clarkesville, Texas. Ben and Mildred reared three children and delighted in the births of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was known for her absolute devotion to both her immediate and extended family. She exuded vitality and believed that "life was to lived and savored" at every turn. Mildred was the quintessential steel magnolia who as the family matriarch was a pillar of strength in adversity and beacon of hope for life's inevitable tribulations. As a founding member of the greatest generation, she knew the requisite anguish of separation from her husband and many years later from her son as they met military responsibilities in defense of America's policies. Shining like the sun through the postwar haze, she kept the home fires burning and never lost her gift for loving and laughing; she believed in the best of human nature and triumph of the human spirit. Perhaps her greatest legacy to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren was that she imparted a sense of duty, and honor and most of all, an unbending commitment to family. Mildred was preceded in death by her beloved parents, her devoted husband and her two brothers, Pat S. Russell and Lucien Russell, and one sister Mrs. Alicia Moran. She is survived by one son, Dr. Charles R. Blanton, of Abilene, Texas and two daughters, Dr. Patricia L. Blanton of Dallas, Texas, and Elizabeth B. Wolf and her husband, Dr. Roland O. Wolf of Abilene, Texas. She is survived by nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. The family would like to express our sincere and profound gratitude on behalf of our mother to the following "angels of mercy" who provided highly competent and compassionate care during the last years of her life: Maria Hall, Elsa Casarez, Carole Worden and Lanell Perkin Memorials may be made in honor of Mildred Louise Blanton to Hospice of The Big Country, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, Texas 79605.