Mildred M. Willits

Mildred M. Willits, 88, Anderson, passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis following a sudden illness.
She was born on November 1, 1920, in Stony Creek Township of Madison County, Indiana to Chester and Nelle (George) Graham.
She graduated from Lapel High School in 1938.
Mildred worked with her husband, John, as they founded and operated Willits' Hardware in Lapel for 15 years. In 1963, she opened Suburban Beauty Salon with her daughter, Marjorie, in the Lapel area and operated it until she retired in 1980. She avidly worked on genealogy; loved to sew; made quilts; used her computer like a pro; loved to cook; and enjoyed giving of her time and talents to her family and many friends.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church throughout her life where she taught Sunday school; was deeply involved with the Methodist Youth Fellowship; worked on the Missions committee; actively participated in the Women's Society; and was on the Administrative Board. She was a member of the former Lapel Eastern Star and had served as Guardian of the former Lapel Job's Daughters.
She is survived by one daughter, Marjorie Jane (Willits) Patterson of Anderson; two granddaughters, Lesli K. (husband, Mitch) Handwork of Lapel, and Lori K. Matlock of Arcadia; five grandsons, James B. Patterson and Jeffrey T. Patterson both of Anderson, Robert C. (wife, Judy Kemp) Pickett of Fishers, Jonathon K. (wife, Christine) Pickett of Sheridan, and Christopher J. Pickett of Cicero; ten great-grandchildren, Erik, Rachael, Jacob, Alyxzander, Rebecca, and Anastazya Handwork, Sara (husband, Steve) Martin, Karah and Codi Matlock, and Maris Kemp; three great-great-grandsons, Cayden and Connor Matlock, Caleb Martin; two sisters, D. Louise (Graham) Beanblossom of Lapel and Eulala (Graham) Roettger of Anderson; and several nieces and nephews. .
She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Carolyn R. (Willits) Pickett; three sisters, Rosemary (Graham) Likens, Ruth (Graham) Pritchard, and her twin sister, Hildred (Graham) Adler; and two brothers, Merrill C. Graham, and George H. Graham.
Funeral service will be held at 1:30 pm Saturday, December 6, 2008, at Scott E. Hersberger Funeral Home in Lapel with Pastor Doug Barton officiating. Burial will follow in Brookside Cemetery, Lapel.
Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, December 5, 2008, at Scott E. Hersberger Funeral Home, 1010 North Main Street, Lapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 606, Lapel, Indiana 46051, Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the American Heart Association.

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