Mildred Alexander

Mildred L. ""Millie"" Alexander Born August 29th, 1914, in West Elwood, ""Kitchen Town"", Tipton County, Indiana, Millie went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 20. 2016. Her parents, Edward Barton Hackett and Minnie Ellen (Farr) Hackett preceded Millie in death, as did Kenneth Lee Alexander, her best friend and loving husband of over 62 years. Millie's older sister, Katherine passed away as child. But her 3 older brothers Lester with wife Hattie, Bill with wife Vera and Robert with wife Flossie remained extremely close. Each brother and spouse passed away some time ago. Millie has two sons. Jack Alexander and his wife Edith (Pritchard) who reside in Venice Florida. A younger son, Dr. David Alexander and his wife Clare (McCarthy) reside in Carmel Indiana. Millie has three granddaughters. Jennifer Lynn of Boulder CO, mother of Millie's great grandchild, Bryn Newell, who will graduate from Syracuse University in 2017. Granddaughter Polly Hyde, of St. Simons Island, GA, has two daughters, Sara 7 and Addison 4. Granddaughter Meghan Rogers of Chicago and a graduate of Purdue. Not long after WWII Millie's home became one of the favorite Alexander and Hackett centers for family and holiday gatherings which included all family members. Millie, her mother and sisters-in-law were all famous for their cooking and baking skills. Graduating Elwood High in 1932 with honors and receiving a scholarship to college was a bitter sweet blessing for Millie. As during the Great Depression the family could not afford to make up the little difference needed to send Millie to a university. She went to work in the Tin Mill in Elwood Indiana. Some time after, while having a soda at the Elwood Sweet Shoppe, a mutual friend introduced her to Kenny Alexander whom she later married. They were married in Steubenville, Ohio on June, 15th, 1935, as Kenny was now employed as an overhead crane operator, just across the Ohio River, at the Weirton, West Virginia Steel Mill. Eldest son Jack, was born during 1938 in Steubenville. But early in 1942 the little family moved back to Elwood and Kenny took a job at Delco Remy. In early 1944 Kenny was drafted in WWII, where he served in Pacific Fleet until after the war ended. At this time Millie delivered son David soon after Kenny departed for the Navy. Millie's almost lost her life following the delivery as major health complications were severe, but because Millie was a Navy Dependent, she was encouraged to become a guinea pig test case for a new and more potent form of Penicillin recently developed for our military. After many months of hospitalization, the drug worked and it saved Millie's life. During this time Millie called her parents' house ""home"". Jack stayed with his grandparents while David was initially raised by Millie's brother Bill and his wife Vera. Meanwhile Millie spent many months between the Elwood Mercy Hospital and the Robert Long Women's Hospital in Indianapolis. After the war, Kenny and Millie purchased a home in Elwood. He returned to work at Delco Remy in Anderson Indiana and eventually retired from Delco in 1975. But during 1950's, for a few years they also owned and operated the Bonham Hotel Coffee Shop in Elwood. Together, during the tomato harvesting season, they also leased and operated the Employees Restaurant at the local Stokely-Van Camp packing plant. Because of Millie's lingering health problems, they sold their businesses and Kenny continued working at Delco. About 1956 Millie was employed as an inspector at the Excello plant, from which she retired in 1974. Now retired and having lived all their lives in the Mid West, the couple decided to spend a winter in Florida. A neighbor knew of a rental available along the SW Gulf Coast in Englewood, Florida. Having been there before, the neighbor felt sure they would love the area and suggested the newly retired Alexander's spend the winter down there. Indeed, they spent a delightful winter in the Englewood and Venice area. Before returning to Elwood they purchased a lovely modern home in Venice Florida, where they continued to live until 1994, when they downsized and purchased a nearby condominium. Kenny passed away in 1997 at age 86 and Millie continued to maintain her condo then a year and a half ago enjoyed moving to Sunset Lake Village. For many years, Millie and Kenny were active workers and supporters in the First Baptist Church of Elwood. Upon moving to Florida, they became equally involved at the First Baptist Church, on the Island of Venice. With a small but extremely close family and a large circle of friends, Millie has always been popular and much admired for her sharp mind, kindness and friendliness. In the later years, she enjoyed excellent over-all health, social activity and time spent with many close friends who were affectionately referred to as ""Millie's Posse"", right up until the end when she passed away in her sleep at age 102. Visitation will be from 10-11 AM, Wednesday, January 4 at Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel with a Funeral Service to follow at 11 AM. Burial will be immediately following the service at Venice Memorial Gardens where she will now be eternally with her adoring husband. Millie will be missed by all, but her family and friends find comfort in knowing that she is now with Kenny, her first and only true love. After all, families are forever. Visitation Information Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Farley Funeral Home - Venice Chapel Address: 265 Nokomis Avenue South Venice, FL 34285 941-488-2291 | Map Service Information Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 Time: 11:00 am Farley Funeral Home - Venice Chapel Address: 265 Nokomis Avenue South Venice, FL 34285 941-488-2291 | Map