Mildred Rader Gatlin

Mildred Rader Gatlin, age 97, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2023 in the afternoon at the Wesleyan Assisted Living Community. Her daughter, Mary Hearon, and dear friend, Mickey Fisher, were with her. She was born and raised in Georgetown, Texas.

Mildred graduated from Southwestern University with a bachelor's degree in English, and during her studies, was an active member of the Southwestern Drama Club. She met her husband, Bill Gatlin, who was in the Marine Officer Training at Southwestern University at the time. They married at The Chapel in the Woods at Camp Pendleton on April 26, 1945. Bill was shipped out to Okinawa three weeks later. Mildred and Bill had two daughters, Jan Gatlin Thompson and Mary Gatlin Hearon. Due to Bill's career, they moved several times, living in Dallas, TX, Tucker, GA, Woodbridge, NJ, and Houston, TX. They retired back to Georgetown in the 1980s.

Mildred worked as a dedicated teacher most of her life, teaching high school English in Georgetown to returning veterans of World War II. While living in Tucker, Georgia, she taught second grade to children in Duluth, Georgia. Her other passion in life was for the Lord Jesus Christ. She combined these passions by serving as principal of a church school in the Heights in Houston. Mildred would be actively engaged in all aspects of the local Baptist Church wherever Bill's career brought them, and was always sure to join the choir, regularly singing solos. She was on the board of directors for the Baptist Children's Home, was a member of the Eastern Star of Georgetown, and was very involved in the Women’s Missionary Union of the Baptist Church and held statewide office with the WMU of Texas.

Mildred never met a stranger. Her love for others and her attitude of service made her a beautiful example of the Christ-filled life. She will be dearly missed.

Mildred is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Bill Gatlin; her daughter, Jan Thompson; her parents, Owen Rader and Louise Ischy Rader; her three brothers, Junior, Ray, and Paul. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Gatlin Hearon; her sister, Ida Rader Fisher; her nieces, Karen Fisher and Jean Robb, her nephews, Ralph Fisher, Grant Rader, and Stuart Kling, and their families; family members Janet Kling and Irene Kling; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the Wesleyan Independent Living community and the Wesleyan Assisted Living community for their excellent care during Mildred's time there (2017-2023). Their professionalism was exceeded only by their compassionate and loving care.

A visitation for Mildred will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628. A funeral service will occur Friday, November 10, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home. The burial will be held privately following services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Mildred's memory to Women's Missionary Union of Texas (www.wmutexas.org) or Children at Heart Ministries (www.cahm.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Gatlin family.