Mildred Bayless worked as a laundress, a secretary and as a clerk in a
BX until her marriage to Lester Ribling in 1942. As a child, Mildred had
moved so many times that she was determined to marry a farmer and live
the rest of her life in one place. That never happened. She married
Lester who was in the Air Force. She spent the next 20 years moving.
She was an active volunteer for the American Red Cross most of her adult
life until her retirement in the 1980s.
After the birth of her daughter Barbara, she became a Sunday school
teacher and a Girl Scout Leader. She was a Scout Leader for many years
and worked with all ages of girls from Brownies through Seniors. She and
Lester took many field and camping trips with the Girl Scouts over the
years.
In 1962 Lester Ribling was stationed at Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA where
he retired in 1972. Mildred was very active in the Red Cross. She
worked with Service to Military Families and was a First Aid and CPR
instructor. She also was a First Aid and CPR Trainer and taught many
Valdostans to be instructors.
She also organized the making of, and helped make numerous "Ditty Bags"
for the soldiers during the Viet Nam War.
Mildred died in June of 1995 while visiting relatives in Texas. She is
greatly missed.