Mildred Edna Derington

ELKHART -- Mildred Edna Derington, 96, died Saturday, June 21, 2008, at her home in Aurora, Colo.

She was born May 25, 1912, in Milan, to Thomas M. and Sara L. Derington. She graduated from Wichita High School in 1929 and from Kansas State Teachers College in 1931.

She began her teaching career as a first-grade teacher in the Elkhart school system, teaching first grade for eight years and then kindergarten for 16 years. In 1972, she was honored as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America. From 1977 through 1979, she served as housemother for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at Washburn University in Topeka, finding an entire new family of "daughters," with many of them continuing to stay in touch with her until her death. After leaving Topeka, she moved to Guymon, Okla., and then moved to Aurora in 1993 to be near her son and his family.

Throughout her life, she stayed active in her church and community through P.E.O., bridge clubs, Heather Garden Follies and as an adult reading literacy teacher. She loved to travel and made many trips in the United States, Middle East and England.

Survivors include a son, Mike Bloodhart of Denver; a daughter, Melinda Butts of Shawnee; a stepdaughter, Eleanor Faris of Guymon; and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Muriel Dinning; two stepdaughters, Jane Hensley and Georgiana Dickson; her husband, Bartley Bloodhart, in 1959; and her husband, Orlando Sweet, in 1975.

Funeral will be 5 p.m. Friday at Garnand Funeral Home Chapel, Elkhart, with her son-in-law, Dr. Stanley Butts, officiating. Burial will follow in the Bloodhart family plot at Elkhart Cemetery.

Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Christian Family Services, in care of the funeral home, Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.