Mildred Vinyard

Mildred B. Vinyard

MILFORD - Mildred B. Vinyard passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at her home.  She was 101.

Born in Lawrence, Kansas on September 1, 1914 to the late Lafayette and Ola (Moody) Burlingame, Mildred moved to Milford, her families original home, as a young child and resided there ever since.

She graduated as Salutatorian at Milford High School and attended the University of Delaware, receiving a teaching certificate.

Mildred taught briefly in Rehoboth before marrying Hallett Vinyard, also of Milford.  She started the first kindergarten in Milford in her home.  After her children were grown, she returned full time to teaching, having already earned a considerable reputation as a substitute who often taught more than the teacher she was covering for.  Finally, she could begin a new career as a Remedial Reading Specialist for the State of Delaware, a position she filled until retirement.

She was one of the founding members of the first square dance club in the Milford area and just loved to dance.  With music, her feet could not stay still.  She loved to travel as well and visited most if not every State in the US, many multiple times.  Trips were also taken to Europe and the Caribbean area.  At the age of 90, she worked on Habitat for Humanity projects in Alaska and New Zealand.  She was a staunch member of the First Presbyterian Church in Milford, serving the church in several capacities over the course of 90 years.

Mildred was known as a person of standards.  She adhered to them and made sure others did too, whether in church, at dancing, at her home, or in school, and did so in a way that left room for those who were being corrected to love her - along with everyone else who came into contact with her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Hallett Vinyard, three brothers; Lafayette, Harvey, and Edgar Burlingame, and three sisters; Louise Bogen, Mary Conley, and Della Havelka.

Mildred is survived by a son, Roland Vinyard of Sprakers, NY; a daughter, Mary Ann Branham of Parkersburg, WVa; two sisters, Gladys Dutton of Milford and Ruth Georgiou of Tarpon Spring, FL; a brother, Charles Burlingame of Seaford; and five grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave, Milford, where friends may call after 12:00 p.m.

Burial will follow the services at the Milford Community Cemetery on North Walnut Street.