Mildred Ruby was born on April 8, 1925, in Rhodes, Iowa, to Charles and Fern Anway Veach, the youngest of eight children. Her mother's illness led to her adoption by her aunt, Ruby Sanders, and her husband, Howard, on May 31, 1926. Millie, as she was known, grew up with their daughters, Maxine and Madeline, in Rhodes and Ames, Iowa.
After her father's death, Ruby and Millie moved to Olympia, Washington. Millie excelled in high school, playing 1st chair violin in the orchestra. During World War II, she was active in the USO, dancing the jitterbug, and serving as an Air Raid Warden.
In San Diego, California, Millie met Robert Wold, the love of her life, who was serving in the Navy. They married on June 6, 1949, in Anacortes, Washington. Together, they had four children: Jerry and Linda, born in San Diego, and Anita and David, born in Caracas, Venezuela, while Robert was on embassy duty.
During their 70-year marriage, including 30 years in the Navy, they lived in various places, including Norfolk, Virginia; the Washington, DC area; San Diego, California; and Great Lakes, Illinois, before retiring in San Diego.
Millie enjoyed retirement, spending her time crocheting, quilting, and cross-stitching for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After Robert's death, she moved to Farmington, Minnesota, to live with her daughter Anita, where she passed away on February 10, 2024, at the age of 98.
Millie was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings. Her children survive her: son, Gerald Wold and wife, Maryann, daughter, Linda Burtch and husband, Timothy, daughter, Anita Riley and husband, Kevin, and son, David Wold; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Heather Burtch Steffen and son, Kyle Burtch and wife, Kirsten; Jason Burtch and wife, Lynea, daughters, Hanna, Corah, Kaitlynn, and Sariah; William Tompkins and wife, Jessica, sons, Tyden and Tobias; Benjamin Tompkins and partner, Sabrina; Edward and wife, Kelly, daughter, Kiara; Kimberly Snyder and husband, Jeffery, sons, Jack and Sully, and daughter, Violet; Kenneth Riley and partner, Olivia.
A graveside service will be held at 11:15 a.m., Monday, February 26, 2024 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.