Mildred Ruth (Duncan) McGarrah, 95, of Princeton, passed away Friday, June 21, 2013 at Gibson General Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility in Princeton.

Mildred was born May 19, 1918 in Musselshell, Mont. to a homesteading couple, Bert Elsworth and Clara Ruth Jackson Duncan.

The family returned to their farm near Tonti, Ill. where Mildred and her six siblings attended one-room schools and were raised in the Friendship Baptist Church.  She graduated from Salem High School before entering nurses’ training in St. Louis.

She married Joseph H. McGarrah shortly after WW II, he preceded her in death.

Mildred did babysitting in her home, took care of children during church services, was involved in Cub Scout activities, helped her son Jim with his Evansville Courier paper route, worked in Driscoll’s Grocery in the 1960’s and 1970’s and was considered “Superb” in ironing of shirts. She was a member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and worked the bingo’s there for 40 years and was known to them as “Grandma”, she was always very active in their Memorial Day ceremonies. She was also a member of Hillside United Methodist Church in Princeton.

Mildred is survived by her sons, James Harvey (Debbie) McGarrah of Riverview, Fla. and Joseph Charles “Chuck” McGarrah of Princeton; grandchildren, Michael, Christopher, Daniel, John and Mark McGarrah; brother-in-law, Paul (Shirley) McGarrah of Princeton and a sister-in-law, Bonita Duncan of Maud, Ill.

Also preceding her in death were her parents; a special, loving daughter-in-law, Malee McGarrah in August of 2012; a sister and five brothers, A. Evelyn (Robert) McKechnie, Frank M. (Iola) Duncan, Clarence E. Duncan, Ward E. Duncan, C. Murl (Velma) Duncan and Bert Ellis (Norma) Duncan.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, with Pastor Jeff Pinney officiating.  Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Princeton.

Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Colvin Funeral Home, where the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary will conduct a memorial service at 7:30 p.m.