Mildred W Ward

Mildred Louise Whidden Kroll Ward

July 13, 1919 -August 28, 2018

Mildred was born in Miami, Florida; the third and youngest daughter of Louise (Hartman) and John Whidden who came to Miami from Cedar Key, Florida and Illinois before move to Florida.  Their family lived through the 1926 "Great Miami" Hurricane, the Great Depression and World War 2.   These experiences rendered her characteristic frugality, realistic approach to life and tough resiliency.

She attended and was baptized at Central Baptist Church in downtown Miami (now Christ Fellowship Church) and later was a faithful member and Sunday School teacher at Northwest Baptist Church as well as Holy Cross Lutheran, both in North Miami.

A graduate of Edison High School in 1936, she married Lloyd Valry Kroll in 1938;

they had 2 children:  Warren Valry and Nancy Louise (Stembridge).

They divorced in 1967.

As a true Miami native, she never moved away from South Florida.

She was married to Alton Judson Ward in 1972 until his death in 1997.

She will be laid to rest at his side.  Alton served as an Army pilot in Europe during WW2.

She worked for Western Union during the period of Lloyd's service in WW2.  He served in the US Army in Guadalcanal, South Pacific.

She also worked as secretary for a funeral home.

For many years until her retirement, she was bookkeeper for Kellerman Paint & Lacquer Corp which was owned by her husband, Alton.

Of all these jobs, her favorite was motherhood.  She was a very loving and loyal mother to her children and a surrogate one to her nieces and nephews, since her sisters Dot & Doris preceded her in death in 1972 & 1966.  Her active listening and caring heart gave sounding board and wisdom to all who shared with her.

Her hobbies included boating, fishing, reading, beloved pet poodles and kitty cats, music and singing.

Her greatest joys in heaven, second only to seeing her Savior Jesus face to face, will be her reunion with her husband Alton; sisters Doris & Dot; Aunt Vera; grandson Brandon; cousin & best friend Marjorie (Margie) Reichmuth; her niece Arlene;  her grand niece Yvonne; her nephews Ronnie & Larry; her nephew-in-law, Elmer;  brother-in-law Duvall, and the many other family and friends who arrived before her.

She is survived by her children:  Warren (Meg Kroll)  & Nancy (Rick Stembridge); nieces:  Gwen Johnson, Lynn Horton, Darlene Croon, Janette McGaughey and John McGaughey;  grandchildren:  Andy Kroll (his children), Rob James, Brooke (Juan Guevara), Jackie (David Freeman);  great grandchildren:  Josiah, Lily, Madelyn and Lionel (Guevara).

We will greatly miss our Mother "Mom", Grandmother "Mom Mom", Aunt, and Mother-in-law.   No one can ever take your place in our hearts.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to Pastor Dennis Bartels for conducting the Memorial Service and being such a loving Pastor to Mildred during her active years at Holy Cross Lutheran.

Our family is forever indebted to Total Private Home Care Agency and Seasons Hospice dedicated nurses, physicians and support staff for the excellent care they gave Mom in her last years and days.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor would be greatly appreciated to:

Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care

1815 Griffin Road, Suite 204

Dania Beach, FL 33004

OR

Calvary Chapel Lake Buena Vista   (Pastor Juan Guevara)

10876 Waterford Court

Orlando, FL 32821

OR

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

650 NE 135th Street

North Miami, FL 33161