Mildred Ethel Holbrook

Mildred Ethel Holbrook, 89, of Odessa, Texas, passed away peacefully at Orchard Park Assisted Living Center in Odessa on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. Graveside services and a celebration of Mildred’s life will be held on Friday, January 18, 2019, at 11:00 A.M. at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 17, with the family present from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Frank Wilson Funeral Home. Arrangements are by Frank Wilson Funeral Home of Odessa.

Mildred was born on September 4, 1929, in Houston, Arkansas, to the late Otto and Ollie Guffey. She married her sweetheart, Willie Ray Holbrook, on November 2, 1946, in Perryville, Arkansas, and they were married for 47 years until Willie’s death in 1993. Willie and Mildred moved to Odessa in 1952 where they raised four sons and lived in various towns in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico “following the oil field booms.” They eventually settled in Odessa in 1960 where Mildred was later employed for many years by ECISD as a transportation supervisor. Throughout those years Mildred was continually visited by many of the students who had ridden her school bus in years past. She was beloved by all of her students.

Mildred was a devout Southern Baptist woman who cherished her relationship with God and with her faith. She taught Sunday School for many years and was also active in children and youth undertakings and with the various activities of the church. In addition, Mildred was an energetic, sociable woman, who enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with her dear friends, preparing special meals or gardening with her mother and sister, and tending to various farm animals that the family raised. Mildred was also an industrious woman, who had no fear of climbing onto the roof to fix an air conditioner, or sliding under a car to change the oil, or handling the finances for the various “second jobs” the family would undertake. Most importantly, though, Mildred loved her family dearly and was her boys’ best cheerleader when they participated in sports and other activities.

Mildred was a loving mother, wife, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. One could see her love in her smile, and she shared that smile generously with everyone she met.

Mildred was preceded in death by her adored husband, Willie Holbrook; her parents, Otto and Ollie Guffey; her cherished son, Charlie Holbrook; her beloved grandson, Bryan Michael Holbrook; and her sister, Marion Jordan.

Mildred’s survivors include her three sons, Dan (Jeanie) Holbrook of Odessa, Vaughn (Janice) Holbrook of Crosby, Texas, and Shawn (Betty) Holbrook of Fort Worth, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Orchard Park for their loving care and attention of Mildred during her residence there and to Starr Hospice for their special watchfulness and kindness these past several weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Family Promise of Odessa, Make-a-Wish Foundation, or to the charity of one’s choice.