Elaine Millikan Mathes

Elaine Millikan Mathes died peacefully on January 24, 202,2 at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her parents, J.R. and Ruth Millikan, her brothers Robert S. Millikan and Thomas E. Millikan, her sister Eugenia M. Winget, and her son, Curtis Mckenzie Mathes. She is survived by a sister, Pat Brown of Carrollton, her daughter Diana Waring and her husband, Charles Waring, of Dallas, her son, James Mathes, and his wife, Teresa, of San Diego, CA. Grandchildren include, Charles Curtis Mathes of New York, NY, Lee Mathes of San Diego, CA, Sara Mathes of Denver, CO, and Molly Waring of New York, NY.

Mathes attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, graduating in 1947. She completed her education at the University of Texas, where she earned a B.A. in English Literature in 1949. In 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, George Curtis Mathes.

Family was the most important thing to Elaine. She was devoted to her children, grandchildren and provided tireless support to her parents, siblings and her nieces and nephews. Inspired by her parents, she was passionate about supporting educational institutions and providing educational opportunities for others. Among other things, she established the J.R. Millikan Centennial Professorship in English Literature and the Ruth Knight Millikan Centennial Professorship in Education at the University of Texas at Austin. She also established the Curtis and Gladys Mathes Scholarships in Humanities at the University of Texas at Arlington. At the University of North Texas, she established the Elaine M. Mathes Professorship in Education and the Mack Mathes Art Scholarship.

She was a child of Texas, a lover of learning and simply a giver. Those who wish to remember her are encouraged to make a gift to an educational institution of their choosing in her memory. A graveside burial service will be held on Tuesday, February 1, at 2PM, at Laurel Land Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at a later date at The Church of the Incarnation Episcopal Church.