Cora Claudia Middleton

Born in Austin, Texas on October 18, 1944, to Beverly and Jimmy Middleton, Claudia graduated from Austin High School and maintained friendships with her classmates throughout her life, meeting regularly for happy hours until her passing. She attended the University of Texas before finding her true calling at the American Airlines Stewardess College, joining the glamorous world of commercial air travel in 1967.

Her life was one long adventure that she embraced fully, and she lived that life on her own terms. For 40 years, Claudia crisscrossed the globe—from Japan to Brazil and all points in between—bringing comfort and grace to countless passengers. Yet no matter how far she traveled for work, her favorite vacation destination was always a beach; whether in St. Thomas or Hawaii, she was never happier than when she had sand between her toes. She loved adventures, collected friends the way some flight attendants collect destination pins, kept almost every card and letter she ever received, she knew how to navigate life’s turbulence with grace, despised cold weather, yet always had a warm smile ready, and made everyone around her feel like they were flying first class—even when life had them in the middle seat.

Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly and Jimmy Middleton, and her sister, Doris Middleton. She is survived by her sister, Tibb Middleton; niece Maggie and Saaket Dubey; nephew James and Kris Bart; great-nieces and -nephews Audrey and Gwyneth Donovan, Taylor Lefort and her children Asher and Calvin, Alex and Andi Bart, and Haley Bart; cousins Lynn Lindsay and Linda Ann and Roy Johnson; and countless friends who became family over the years.