Katie Mildred Dunn Thomas (Mildred) passed away at home on the family farm near Hardin, KY on Jan. 19, 2019, age 93 years, 11 months. She resided in Springfield, OH for over 60 years. She was preceded in death by her parents Joe Guy Dunn and Jesse Mae Gardner Dunn, a sister JoAnn, and her husband of 49 years, Charles A. Thomas. She is survived by three sons Joe, John (Maria), and Jeff (Anne) and a nephew, Brian Thomas (Lisa), and great niece Cora Eloise.
Mildred was a graduate of Kirksey H.S. and a proud alumna of The University of Kentucky, with a degree in Home Economics and Nutrition. During WWII she built bombs and later worked welding the large tail assembly on B-29 Bombers.
An ever proud Kentuckian, and fan of the UK Wildcats; she later administered a scholarship at UK. She began her professional career with UK Extension and later worked for Kentucky Utilities. She then took a job with Columbia Gas in Ohio as a ‘Betty Newton’ and a Home Demonstration Agent giving traveling cooking shows to large groups and audiences. She collaborated on many cookbooks and developed recipes for companies like Proctor & Gamble, among others. She was offered a job with Arlene Francis on The Today Show in NYC but declined it to marry Charles A. Thomas December 22, 1956.
Friends and family relished her wonderful culinary skills and inventiveness. Her table decorations and cooking were featured in several national magazines. She loved and raised three sons and then went back to school and got a teacher’s certificate and master’s degree and taught Home Economics and food classes at Springfield North High School.
A lifetime lover of animals, she was an accomplished equestrian and showed fine harness and dressage at state and national events. She was a 50-plus year member of First Lutheran Church in Springfield and active with its programs. Other interests included genealogy and history which led to her becoming a long-term member of the D.A.R. and the Lagonda Chapter which managed the Pennsylvania House. She and other like minded members spearheaded a drive to raise funds and grants to restore it to period historic correctness. She was twice elected Regent for the Chapter in addition to being a State Officer and a member of the State Board. She was instrumental in preserving The Madonna of The Trail and may other projects. In addition to her many civic contributions, she enjoyed interests such as drawing and Japanese style flower arranging.
A memorial service will be held at Kirksey United Methodist Church on KY-299; on Saturday, February 9 at 11:30 A.M. A reception to follow. The family asks that donations for Mildred Dunn Thomas be made to Lagonda Chapter D.A.R. Pennsylvania House Museum in Springfield, OH in lieu of flowers.
Online condolences: www.yorkfuneralhome.com
Blalock-Coleman & York Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.