Mildred Butts

US Army Veteran Mildred Butts recently turned 100 years old in January 2022. Mildred grew up on a large farm with no electricity or plumbing. Her family spent most of the days working hard to keep the family fed, hydrated, and warm. She brought this hard-working and persevering attitude with her into the US Army.

Mildred grew up on a 145-acre farm in rural Rockbridge County, VA with five sisters and four brothers. Their days at home were often spent on tasks to ensure survival – getting water from a cistern, gathering fire word, hunting, tending to livestock and crop, hand washing clothes and anything else to keep the family of 12 thriving on their farm. There wasn’t much time to allocate toward education. Most of her family members did not move on to high school.

At the age of 19 Mildred joined the US Army where she served stateside in the Women’s Army Corp. She served many different capacities in her service including medical technician, and parachute rigger and repairs. Mildred worked her way up to the rank of corporal and earned numerous awards for her hard work and dedication during her service including The WAC service medal, The American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Granddaughter Sarah Butts wearing Mildred’s original WWII uniform

In 1945 Mildred was honorably discharged and used her GI Bill benefits to further her education. She attended beauty school and began her civilian career at a salon in Alexandria, VA. After marrying her husband Calvin and the birth of her first son Lew, the family moved to Gordonsville, VA in 1955 to care for elderly family members and to work on their 13-acre farm. Both Lew and their second son Cal followed in their parent’s footsteps and served in the military. Lew worked his way up to master sergeant in the Army and Cal was a lieutenant colonel in Air Force.

Mildred was unable to attend the Hometown Hero presentation; however, her son Lew and her granddaughter Sarah were able to join us (pictured). Greg and Crystal Dudley from our ALCOVA Mortgage Orange, VA branch were honored to present Mildred’s family with her Hometown Hero award.

*Pictured left to right: Branch Manager Greg Dudley, Lew Butts, Sarah Butts and Branch Partner Crystal Dudley.