Mildred Bates Smith

Mildred Bates Smith age 98 of Fairfield, passed away on December 4, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.

A private graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery with Behner Funeral Home assisting the family

Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army and mailed to Colleen Bates, 2465 Glasgow Road, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.

Mildred was born May 11, 1922 in Fairfield to Earl Orva and Flossie (Adams) Goodwin.  She married Rodger Bates on July 2, 1941 in Kahoka, Missouri.  He passed away on August 13, 1994.

She married Cloyd Smith on February 14, 1997.  He passed away April 17, 2008.

Mildred worked 28 years at Nelson Nursing Home as a housekeeping supervisor.  She would walk the two miles to and from work daily.

Mildred cherished her large collection of glass angels.  She was a kind person that always took care of others before herself.

She will be missed by her daughter-in-law, Colleen Bates of Fairfield; stepson, Ron (Pris) Bates of Thailand; 1 grandchild, Randall J. Bates; two step grandchildren, Patrick Bates and Linda Bates; and 1 great grandchild, Tallon J. Bates; one sister-in-law, Maxine Bates of Kansas and several nieces and nephews.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Flossie; her husbands, Rodger Bates and Cloyd Smith; her son, Randy K. Bates; three brothers, Donald, Albert and Earl Goodwin; two sisters, Dorothy St. Clair and Violet Steinbeck.