Iva Mildred Fussell

Iva Mildred Fussell October 18, 1919 - August 2, 2011 Iva Mildred Fussell of Waco passed away Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Graveside services will be 9:00 a.m., Friday, August 5, at Mt. Calm Cemetery with Doug Blackford officiating. Mildred was born October 18, 1919, near Dawson, Texas, to Jeffie Lula Cook and Daniel Lee Fussell. She graduated from Mt. Calm High School in 1936 and from North Texas State Teachers College with a B.A. degree in 1939 and a M.A. in 1941. She taught high school English at Covington, Jonesboro, and Midland high schools. During World War II, she worked for the War Protection Board and served two years in the Women's Army Corps. After the war she attended the University of Texas Austin, where she received the Ph.D. in 1955. From 1951 to 1953 Iva was an instructor in English at Southern Methodist University, and from 1954 to 1984, she was Professor of English and chairman of the department for more than twenty years at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. She retired in 1984 and a year later moved to Waco, where she was a member of the Cogdell United Methodist Church. Mildred enjoyed reading and traveling. She had toured all the fifty states, all the provinces of Canada, and all the continents except Antarctica. Her favorite destination was the British Isles, which she visited six times. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Myra Beth Callaway of Waco; one nephew, Stephen L. Callaway of Gholson; four nieces, Linda McRae of China Spring, Bonnie Alexander of Denver, Nancy Upchurch of Denver, and Lois Ward of Gholson; 10 great nieces and nephews; and 7 great great nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Cogdell United Methodist Church of Waco, or to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at UMHB Box 8428, Belton TX 76513-2599. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.