Mildred R. Myers, age 102 of Oakwood, Ohio, passed away in her home on Thursday, January 5, 2023, having fulfilled a life of devotion to her family, neighbors, and friends.

Mildred was born on January 13, 1920, in Paulding County to parents Edwin and Lura Coil. Mildred and her family moved to Van Wert in 1924 where she helped grandmother Mate sell their fresh, homemade donuts on the street to Saturday shoppers. In 1928, the Coil family moved to Ransom, MI where Mildred attended a one-room schoolhouse which had large windows but no electricity. She set her sack lunch beside the stove in the center of the room during winter so it wouldn’t freeze and wore her coat, hat and boots the entire school day. On the coldest, snowiest days her father hitched horses to a large mud boat sled and took the children to school, picking up others along the way.

In 1930, the family moved back to Ohio on a farm south of Melrose. They cut ice from the Auglaize River and packed it in sawdust to preserve it for summer use in their icebox. On Father’s Day 1932, Mildred stood beside her father in the Methodist Church and sang “God Will Take Care Of You”. At Melrose School, Mildred attended 4-H, took sewing and cooking classes, played the saxophone, was on the basketball team, joined the French Club, sang in the Glee Club, and played in the 1937 class play. She enjoyed dancing the Charleston, the Jitterbug, the Shag, the Jive, and the Push. Mildred met Ancel “Red” Myers, her future husband at a dance and hit it off, nurturing 12 children plus an estimated 120 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. How blessed, fortunate and envied we all are to have this incredible lady at the head of our family. Every neighbor and friend who knew her are happier because they did. Mildred ceaselessly affects eternity with abounding love and pure goodness; what an incomparable darling.

Mildred is survived by three daughters, Madeline (Paul) Rosebrock of Southport, NC, Marsha (Ed) Shrider of Coldwater, MI, and Jan (Mark) Peck of New Riegel, OH, six sons, Martin (Connie) Myers of Goodyear, AZ, Marion (Sandra) Myers of Napoleon, OH, Rolland (Judy) Myers and Keith (Pam) Myers, all of Oakwood, OH, Robert (Gloria) Myers of Cecil, OH, and Roger Myers of Defiance. She is also survived by daughter-in-law Judith Myers of Oakwood, OH, son-in-law Leo “Pete” Wiseman of Defiance, and her sister Patricia Mendenhall of Auburn, IN.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Ancel, daughter Marilyn Wiseman, sons Melvin and Edwin, grandson Michael, brothers Curtis and Dale Coil, and sisters LaDonna McGregor and Ramona Jakab.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm on Monday, January 9, 2023, at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 11:00 am at Schaffer Funeral Home, with Celebrant Deb Miller officiating. One hour of additional visitation will be held before the service. Burial will follow the service at Sherman Cemetery.

The family would like to thank our brother Rolland for all the care provided to our mother for many years, and thanks to ELARA Caring Hospice for their care and compassion.

Memorials are suggested to the St Jude’s Children Hospital, Paulding/Defiance County Veterans Services, or West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, OH. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.