MILDRED P. THOMAS Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006 at the age of 85. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, California. She earned her B.A. from UCLA and her Master's Degree at Cal. State Fullerton. Mildred taught at Longfellow Elementary School in Riverside for 24 years and then continued for seven more years as teacher emeritus. She served on the Board of Directors for Riverside City Teachers Association for 12 years. Mildred was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for over 40 years. Her love of children and teaching inspired her four daughters and one granddaughter to also become teachers. Mildred was greatly involved in the community. She was on numerous committees throughout her life as a volunteer for First Baptist Church, the City of Riverside, and the Municipal Museum. Mildred was in the Press Enterprise column "People Who Make a Difference." Mildred loved to travel and visited more than 50 countries on five continents. She was in ambassador of youth and cultural exchange in her years of service for the International Relations Council. Mildred was the recipient of the Jessie Halverson Award for over 20 years of involvement with the International Relations Council. Mildred was recognized by the YWCA as an Everyday Hero and honored in 1999 with a Woman of Achievement Award. At the Black Voice Foundation's 14th Annual Awards Ceremony she was honored as a Woman of Achievement. She was an inspiration to her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all of them. Mildred is survived by her children and their spouses Barb Ryon; Lawrence Thomas of Prineville, Oregon; Ginger and Dick Martin; Peggy Thomas and Steve Pantos; Pam and Bruce West; 6 grandchildren; Eric Smith and wife Julie of Buckeye, AZ; Nick Smith and wife Cynthia; Kari Martin; Sam Thomas; Candace and Aleah West and 2 great-grandchildren, Isabel and Logan Smith. A celebration of life for Mildred Thomas will be held at the First Baptist Church of Riverside 5500 Alessandro Blvd. on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 3:00PM. A family burial service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flower, the family requests donations be made in her honor to the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Restoration Fund. Donations can be sent to Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery c/o Best, Best & Kreiger LLP, Attn. Judy Ismael, P.O. Box 1028 Riverside, CA 92502.
Published in the Press-Enterprise from 10/10/2006 - 10/11/2006.