MILDRED (EYLER) GIBB HUNTER

Mildred Hunter

Mildred Eyler Gibb Hunter, 103, died Jan. 29, 2019, in Sleepy Hollow.

She was born Nov. 29, 1915, a daughter of John and Bertha Eyler near Alexis. She married Raus Gibb in April, 1936. He preceded her in death in October, 1958. She later married Calvin Hunter in 1960. He preceded her in death.

She also was preceded in death by six brothers, Harry, Robert, Russell, Howard, Richard and Glen Eyler; three sisters, Marguerite Smalley, Dorothy Arthur and Elizabeth Schroeder; and one daughter, Mary.

Surviving are two children, Jane (and Stephen) of Sleepy Hollow and Paul of Palm Springs, Calif.

She attended school in Monmouth graduating in 1933. For two years of school during the depression, she was a live-in caretaker for Dr. and Mrs. McKinley in Monmouth. She also worked as a secretary at the W.P.A.

She and Raus took over a Ford Motor dealership in Reynolds in May, 1946. Besides selling automobiles, they had the school bus concession for the town. Mildred did the bookkeeping.

Another business opportunity opened up with a Ford dealership in Aledo, which they took advantage of and moved there in 1952. Business was not as good as they hoped, and in early 1957 Raus and Mildred purchased the Oldsmobile and International Harvester Equipment dealership in Rushville and moved the family.

Shortly after Raus’s death, General Motors contacted Mildred that they were canceling the Oldsmobile contract as they would not allow a woman to individually own and run a dealership. She took on a dealership with American Motors and also was able to change the ownership to her name with International Harvester.

Along came another person in the automobile business, Calvin Hunter, who convinced Mildred that they should merge business. They soon sold the International Harvester business, took on Chrysler autos and canceled the contract with American Motors. They ran this dealership until 1987.

She was active in Rushville First Presbyterian Church, and served on many boards and committees with other local organizations. She also was one of the founding members of the Phoenix Opera House, watching over the finances.

Services will be held at 9 a.m., Friday at Rushville First Presbyterian Church, 301 W. Washington St., with her nephew David Eyler officiating. Burial will follow in the Warren County Memorial Park in Monmouth. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville.

Memorials may be made to her church or the Phoenix Opera House, both in Rushville.

Condolences may be sent to www.woodfh.net.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 1/30/2019