Mildred West Winter

Mildred West Winter, 94, died Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at her daughter's home in San Antonio, TX after a long battle with cancer. She was born on November 2, 1917, at the Stith homeplace in Jones County. Her parents were M. E. West and Ollie Miller West. Mildred married Norman C. Winter on July 17, 1939, at the Leuders Baptist Encampment. They lived all of their life together in the Big Country area. She attended the elementary school at Stith, TX; and in her later years, she and several Stith "girls" in their late eighties met for lunch monthly in Abilene to share stories about their earlier years together. Often they were joined by a few of the Stith "boys." She graduated from Hardin Simmons College. She studied voice and piano under Dr. Edwin Young and Thurman Morrison. She earned money to help pay for her education when she accompanied vocal and instrumental students in their recitals. She was a member of the Hardin Simmons Cowgirls club. After graduation from college, Mildred taught school in Noodle, Texas, Tuscola, Texas and Merkel Texas for thirty-seven years. Most of those years she taught eighth grade mathematics and English along with music. She loved young people this age, and often said they were a joy to teach. For many years she played the organ at the First Baptist Church in Merkel, Texas. Also, she played the piano or organ for many weddings and funerals in the area. She felt that her musical talent was a gift from God and would never accept any compensation. She loved watching sporting events, especially the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and Texas Rangers. She attended many of her grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's games. Mildred enjoyed many musical sessions with her family where she would play the piano and the family would sing gospel hymns and Christmas carols. These were some of her happiest times as she grew older. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Merkel, Texas and later University Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas. In her later years when she was physically able, she attended Cowboy Church where her son, Robert Winter, preached. Her husband, Norman Winter, died January 15, 1979. She is survived by her children, Linda Winter Denton and Robert Harlon "Frosty" Winter. In addition, she is survived by eight grandchildren: Manley Denton, Jr., Laurie Denton Lee, J. Norman Denton, Lisa Denton, Wendee Winter Davis, Rory Winter, Rowdy Winter, and Rhett Winter and fourteen great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 P. M. Monday, November 28, 2011, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Robert Winter will officiate. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 pm Sunday at the funeral home. Interment following the funeral service will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel, Texas. Pallbearers will be Manley Denton, Jr., Norman Denton, Rory Winter, Rowdy Winter, Rhett Winter, Glen Bicknell, Jeff Lee, and Roy Hackney. Memorials may be made to Disability Resources Incorporated (DRI) P.O. Box 1880, Abilene, Texas 79604; or the Disabled American Veterans Fund, 2535 Grape St., Abilene, Texas 79601.