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Mildred Rose Hufnagle
1917-2018
“Mid” Hufnagle’s 101-year journey on this earth ended on August 15,
2018, just 4 days after the annual family reunion.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith Berner Grote and
William Grote; her husband John; and her son Jack. She is
survived by son Jon Hufnagle of Hollywood SC, daughter Jean Gobel of
Dublin OH, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.
As a life-long resident of Darke County, mostly in Greenville, she was
a 1934 graduate of Greenville High School. Always actively
involved in her children’s lives, she was South School’s PTO president
more than once. Many will remember her as the “nice cafeteria
lady” at South and North schools until she retired in 1980 after 26
years of employment.
In her younger years, she and John led active lives. They danced,
rolling up the carpet in her country home for square-dancing or piling
into the car with other couples to go to the Chrystal Ball, the
Carousel, or the Blue Mill (now the Triangle). They traveled and
especially loved their trips to Hawaii, Las Vegas and Niagra Falls and
to their family’s cottage in Minnesota. Her excursions continued
for many years even after John’s passing in 1987.
As one of the first women bowlers in Greenville, starting in 1936, she
along with John competed in both singles and doubles. The shelves
full of trophies can attest to their skills. When our families
gathered for Thanksgiving, we often went bowling even when she was in
her 90’s.
Fair-goers will remember her as “the sno-cone lady.” Starting in
1958, she loved her stand’s prime location across from the coliseum,
where she could see and chat with all the people she knew. She
thrived on the hard work and long hours, often outworking her teenage
helpers. But her career was cut short in 2000 when she
suffered a broken arm in a fall on one of her routine walks uptown for
coffee.
Never one to just sit and relax, she loved to needlepoint and
knit, often creating items of her own design. In later years, she
took up crossword puzzles, “to keep her mind sharp.” But anyone
who met her at the card table found there should have been little
concern about that!
Card-playing was a life-long passion. She and John were part of
card clubs that met for several decades. When they weren’t
playing euchre, the women played bridge; the men, poker. She was
a fearless bidder and would urge “the table” to play fast; John often
said, “Mid, remember, we aren’t playing for the courthouse!” The
card- playing continued past the age of 100 until her failing eyesight
forced her to stop.
The family gives very special thanks to the Wednesday afternoon bridge
ladies and the euchre players at the Moose for their kindness and
support. We are so thankful to Shirley Hughes for the
Sunday morning Elks breakfasts, for the devoted friends who kept her
going places after she could no longer drive, and for Wendy Smith, Jill
McAlpin, and Catholic Services who made her desire to stay in her home
possible.
She was the rock of the family, raising her children to be independent
and self-sufficient, just as she was. She often said, “ Go live
your lives; don’t worry about me.” In the end, she was at peace,
fully embracing this next phase of her journey. Family and
friends will celebrate her life on Friday, August 31, at 2:00 pm at the
Zechar Bailey funeral home. A time of fellowship will be held
prior to the service from 1:00 – 2:00.
In lieu of flowers and to honor her generous spirit, please send
donations to the Grace Resurrection Community Center, 433 E. Water St,
Greenville, OH 45331.
Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
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