Mildred Williams

Mildred Ruth (Philippi) Williams, 107, died October 10, 2017, at her home in Brockway, Jefferson County, three days shy of her 108th birthday. Born in Canoe Township, Indiana County, on October 13, 1909, she was the fourth daughter of Earl M. and Minnie (Hamilton) Philippi and was one of eight children. Mildred graduated from Marion Center High School in 1928 and from Indiana State Teachers College, now Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in 1932. She taught scores of elementary school students in Rossiter, Indiana County. It was at church, while she was teaching in Rossiter, that Mildred met George Williams, who would become her husband on June 8, 1937. The Williamses made their home in Clymer, Indiana County, before moving to Brockway in 1940. In the decades that followed, George and Mildred were very active in community affairs, and both were recognized as Brockway Citizens of the Year. Mildred was honored in 1996. A long-time member of Brockway Presbyterian Church, she was committed to church affairs on the local, state and national levels. Mildred was also an enthusiastic participant in local conservation efforts as well as in the activities of the Girl Scouts, Mengle Memorial Library and Taylor Memorial Museum. In addition to her parents and siblings, Mildred was preceded in death by her husband in 2002, after nearly 65 years of marriage. She is survived by a daughter, Betsy (Williams) Hansberry, and her husband, John, of Monroeville, Allegheny County. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Michael (Carrie) Hansberry, David Hansberry and Maria Hansberry, and by three great-grandchildren, Tiarra, Cate and Griffin. Mildred’s family would like to offer special thanks to the compassionate caregivers who, for the past decade, enhanced her life in the home she loved. Calling hours for Mildred will be on Thursday, October 12, 2017 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Carlson-Shugarts Funeral Home Inc. 1033 4th Avenue Brockway, PA 15824. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 13 at 11:00 AM at the Presbyterian Church in Brockway with Rev. Christopher McCloskey officiating. Burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery in Indiana, PA. Contributions in Mildred’s memory may be made to Mengle Memorial Library, 324 Main St., Brockway, PA 15824; or to Brockway Presbyterian Church, 817 Main St., Brockway, PA 15824. 

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