Mildred L. Middleton, 101, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Cedar Falls, died Monday, January 19, 2015, after a short illness. She was born July 4, 1913, in Stuart, daughter of Otis V. and Maude Hackthorn Middleton. She graduated from high school in Coon Rapids in 1931. She then began her teaching career in the Carroll County Schools and later taught in Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1943 she received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa). While at ISTC, she also taught at the Price Lab School.
She earned a master's degree in curriculum development from Drake in 1951 and a reading specialist degree from the University of Chicago in 1959. In 1958 she came to the Cedar Rapids school district as a curriculum coordinator, retiring in 1980. She also was a county supervisor for the Carroll County schools, an author of a series of spelling books and numerous professional articles, a teacher at several universities, a consultant to the National Educational Committee and Kendall Hunt publishers, and the recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award given by UNI in 1999. In 2005 the State Department of Education awarded her the Outstanding Mentoring Award. Mildred was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Cedar Rapids, Chapter MG of PEO, Theta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Cedar Rapids Retired Teachers, Quota Club, and Eastern Star, where she served as Worthy Matron.
Survived by: a niece, Marilyn Johnson of Redwood City, California; and friends, Linda Strauser and Maxine Robinson. Preceded in death by: her parents; and two sisters, Vera Miller and Bethene Jordan. Services: 1 p.m. Thursday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, with inurnment at a later time at the Coon Rapids cemetery following a brief graveside service. Memorials: may be directed to the church or the Teacher Education Program at UNI (attn: Dr. Bill Calhoun). Condolences may be left at the Cedar Memorial website. Mildred was a highly respected educator, devoting her life to the education profession and the development of educators.
Copyright Waterloo Courier on-line edition; downloaded January 23, 2015.