Mildred Jean Galatian Gustin passed away on Saturday, June 30, 2012. She was 87 years young. A gathering of Mrs. Gustin’s family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m., with her funeral service to follow at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, Texas.
A lifelong native Beaumont gal, Mildred was the only child of Roy H. and Erma Vandigriff Galatian of Pipkin Street in the South Park District and was a long standing member of the Downtown and then Trinity Methodist Churches.
She graduated from Beaumont High School in 1942 and was active with the Beaumont Lunch Group that planned and celebrated their high school reunions every year for the past sixty years.
While a student at Texas University, Mildred continued her life-long love and obsession with music, enjoying jazz combos, the old standards, the big band sound, classical and spiritual. She enthusiastically went out every Tuesday over the recent years to McKinnsey’s to listen to live combos and bands and dance when she could. Mildred brought friends and family and worked hard to keep live music alive.
Married to Harold Dwain Gustin, known affectionately as Dewey, Mildred joins him now in Heaven. Dewey preceded her passing in June 1992. Through the years, they partied, sang, square danced and boogied. They remained close to childhood friends like Martine, FM, Tommie, and Dayton; later Cecile, Emma, Betty, Sheri, and Millie. They always made new friends like Josh, Carla, Barbara, and Willie and so many dozens more they met through their guiding friends Bill and Lois.
Quick with a joke or a fast comeback, Mildred led her life fully, turned it around often, gave unselfishly and generously to her family and friends and stood as an example of decorum and grace in all circumstances.
Mildred is rejoicing now and at peace. Her surviving family will grieve forever for that sweet soul and kind heart. May we all live up to her joy.
Mildred is survived by her daughters, Ann Ellen Cavallaro of New York, MJ Roberson and her husband and adoring son-in-law Grady, and their two loving children, Jacob and Jessica, all of Beaumont.
A special thank you to all those who loved Mildred and helped us so much throughout the years. And a final thank you to cousin David and Drs. Tony and JP Remirez. God Bless You All.
