Mildred Sanders

Mildred G. Sanders, known to her friends as Millie, was born April 6, 1908 in Seelyville, Indiana. She was the daughter of Alexander and Maxamelia Gostow, natives of Russia. She married Raymond E. Sanders in Crown Point, Indiana on January 18, 1936. In 1949, Ray and Millie, along with their two children, Steve and Jill, vacationed in Arkansas where they fell in love with the Ozarks. Shortly thereafter, they decided to leave the Chicago area in order to pursue the telephone business in the Ozarks. Together, with another couple from Illinois, they purchased the Flippin Telephone Company in 1951, changing the name to Northern Arkansas Telephone Company. They planned to expand the business as the Bull Shoals dam was to be built and the area was expected to grow. Mrs. Sanders and her husband, Ray, worked tirelessly together as managing owners of the telephone company. Millie operated the company switchboards all hours of the day at both the Flippin and Lead Hill offices in the 1950's. She continued to assist at NATCO for many years, serving on it's board of directors. She loved the telephone industry and her co-workers. She would visit the office regularly, as many years as she was able, to share stories of how the company evolved and all the adventures she had as a girl growing up during the Depression Era. In her leisure time she enjoyed playing bridge and traveling in the United States and overseas. She was a resident of Marion County for over 50 years, until she moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas late in the summer of 2004. Mildred G. Sanders passed away September 8, 2005, at Baxter Regional Medical Center at the age of 97 years, 5 months and 2 days. Survivors: One son, Steven G. (Tatiana) Sanders Sr., of Coral Gables, Florida; one daughter, Jill Horvath of Kerrville, Texas; four grandchildren, Steven G. (fiance Danielle Garcia) Sanders Jr., of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Meghan (Jerry) Ward of Minticello, Utah, Kristine (Tim) Kolbus of Carmel, Indiana, and Jon (Susan) Horvath of Romeoville, Illinois; and four great-grandchildren, Hadley Ward, Colin and Dylan Kolbus, and Tyler Horvath Preceded in Death by: Her parents; husband, Ray Sanders; brother, Alfred; and sister, Regina Visitation: 1:00-3:30 p.m. Sunday, September 11, 2005 Funeral: 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 12, 2005 at Kirby-Boaz Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Randy Ludwig officiating Burial: Newton Flat Cemetery, Bull Shoals, Arkansas Memorials: Southshore Foundation