Mildred King

Mildred Alice King (June 13, 1917- October 14, 2007)

Passion for life and the fullness thereof distinguishes Mildred King's life. Her ninety years of life seems to total more living than most muster in two, and it attests to her love of friends and family but, as importantly, her Springfield community.

Mildred started her thirty-two year teaching career at Bailey in 1940. After beginning her family, she returned to Springfield and taught several different grades in various Springfield Elementary Schools and ended her career as a Reading Specialist in 1978. After retiring, she spent countless hours working with the Springfield Greene County libraries in their Wee Read program, where new-born children are welcomed into the community with free books of their very own.

The originator of the local Friends of the Library organization, Mildred helped guide the organization from a handful of volunteers to the current organization of over 400 people. During her last years, Mildred sorted books weekly and volunteered in the gift shop, as well as serving on The Library Board of Directors and the Library Foundation Board.

Armed with a strong sense of fair play, she worked for the right of teachers to be treated as professionals and the right of children to be well educated. While active on the local level for many decades, she served as president of the Missouri Association of Classroom Teachers and was recognized statewide for her strong advocacy of teachers.

Mildred cherished her friends, reaching out to them with generosity and kindness, knowing naturally how to start, build and nourish her long list of companions. Some active friendships were begun as a student at Central High School (1935) and her years at Drury College from which she graduated with a degree in home economics. Her Masters in Reading Education was earned at New York University in Rochester.

Mildred was preceded in death by her father and mother, Wayne and Helen Moore, her brother Edward and sister Ruth. She is survived by her other sisters, Marjorie Hoss of Springfield, and Lynn Dodd of Grand Junction, Colorado, her two sons Louis and David, three grandchildren, Terri King, Eric King and Maura King, three nieces and six nephews including Wayne Moore of Springfield and Melvin Moore of Branson and many cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held at Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell, at 11:00am on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Friends of the Library will be accepted. Online condolences can be made at www.hhlohmeyer.com.