Mildred I. Gates

Mildred I. “Tootie” Gates, 81, of Trenton, Florida and formerly of Navarre died Saturday, June 13, 2009 at Haven Hospice in Florida following a two year illness.

Born April 29, 1928 in Strasburg, she was the daughter of the late George and Forest (Holderbaum) Sexton.

Mildred was the office administrator of Gates Welding Company in Navarre. She and her husband also formerly owned and operated the Speedway Inn in Navarre.

She was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Trenton. She enjoyed playing her organ, baking cookies, and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Darrel Wendell Gates with whom she married on February 5; three children, Dennis Richards and his companion, Shirley Biechler of New Philadelphia, Valerie (husband, Dave) Eberly of Beach City, and Theresa Malone and her companion, Stan Neading of Canton; three stepchildren, Bonnie (husband, Rich) Lus and Kathy (husband, Bill) Wilson both of Jackson Township, and Ron (wife, Linda) Gates of Clayton, California; fourteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, two sisters, Elsie Resh of Strasburg and Sarah (husband, George) Korosedes of North Canton; sisters in law, Sarah Blackledge, Beulah Wolfe, and Bernadine Blough and a brother in law, Raymond (wife, Barbara) Gates along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, William Sexton and a sister, Esther Marie Sexton.

Funeral services celebrating Mildred�(TM)s life will be held Friday, June 19, 2009 at 11:00am in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Strasburg. Interment will be in the Dover Burial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 6-8pm. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Mildred may sign the online register book by visiting the “obituaries” link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

Toland-Herzig, Strasburg
330 343-6132