Mildred D. Lantz Metcalf
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Mildred Delcina Lantz Metcalf entered her eternal life on Friday, August 13, 2021 after a remarkable 105 years. Born on December 27, 1915 in a modest house in Texline, Texas, Mildred was the third of four children. Her father, Charles Wesley Lantz, a Texline pioneer and lumberman, ran Big Jo's Lumber and her mother, Bertha Mae (Kelley) Lantz, was a homemaker.
At an early age, Mildred displayed her talent and love of music as well as her adventurous spirit. When she was only twelve, she played a Dvo??k piano solo at a Texline P.T.A. meeting. At the Clayton Rodeo in August 1929, she rode in a twin seat biplane. She admitted that her fashion sense was actually the reason for the flight...she did not care about flying; she just wanted to wear the pilot's hat. Her life as a child in Texline changed course when, at the age of seventeen, her Mother passed away. In April 1933, Mildred graduated, with honors, from Texline High School.
It was at a Lantz family dinner where her brother Charles first introduced Mildred to C.P. "Pete" Metcalf. Pete would ride his horse to town and Mildred would ride her horse 30 minutes to the ranch to take food to Pete and visit the boys. On April 8, 1934, Mildred and Pete, along with their Texline friends, Harry and Mildred Poole, drove to Rosebud, N.M. where they were married in the living room of a preacher's house. They made their first home in Rosebud. Pete was a ranch hand while Mildred honed her culinary skills (for which she was greatly admired in later years) preparing and delivering food each day to the ranch hands.
Pete wanted to get a college degree, so they left Rosebud for Amarillo where they managed a boarding house. To make ends meet, Mildred rented the rooms and cooked meals for college students who resided there. Michael, the first of their four children, was born in Amarillo. Following graduation, Pete and Mildred moved to Borger where Pete was employed as a chemist at the Phillips refinery. Their daughter, Nancy, was born during their time in Borger. Following World War II, Pete and Mildred moved again, this time to Dalhart where sons Jerry and Keith were born.
Mildred was a busy homemaker while Pete branched off into different businesses ultimately culminating in 1947 with the formation of Dalhart Butane and Equipment Company. Apart from selling propane and farm machinery, in the early 1950's Pete expanded into the water well business. In the following decades, Pete would become known as the "Lewis and Clark" of the irrigation water well industry in the northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle.
With Pete's passing on May 15, 1986, Mildred believed that you should never let grief stop you from living your best life. She proved that by filling her calendar with more community service, many years of travel and watching over Dalhart Butane's business. Although not involved in day-to-day operations, Mildred regularly maintained an office presence and particularly enjoyed seeing and greeting customers. Mildred retired from the family business, now known as DB&E, when she was 99.
In Mildred's lifetime she served, she led, she thought and she inspired. When her children were young, she served as leader for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts. In later years, she served in various capacities with numerous organizations: three terms as President of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs (where she was awarded lifetime membership), the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Texas, Trustee of the Federation Club Mansion in Austin, the Texas State Historical Foundation, Conservation Department, the Texas Beautification and Heritage Departments, Chairman of Historical Places and Things and as trustee and board member of the Girls Town Endowment Fund. From 1977 to 1991, Mildred served as President, benefactor, worker and supporter of Community Concerts in Dalhart. She used her love of learning and speaking to educate women on flower gardening, travel, culture, conservation and the history of Texas.
During Mildred's tenure as a member of the Board of Directors of the Dalhart Chamber of Commerce, she educated the local community on the benefits of a water conservation district in Dallam County.Mildred was instrumental in creating and leading many of the Dalhart area beautification groups. She was a long time member of Petal Pushers Garden Club that was responsible for planting and maintaining flowers in the city park. Mildred's Dalhart civic and charitable contributions were not unnoticed. At age 89, Mildred received the Chamber's "Outstanding Citizen of the Year" award.
Central United Methodist Church was the love of Mildred's life. She served as a Sunday school teacher and participated in various committees including administration, worship and parsonage. She opened her home and her kitchen for her beloved Open Door Sunday School Class. Mildred believed that every church service needed to be accompanied with organ music. To that end, she helped raise funds to purchase an Allen organ. Fittingly, Mildred served as the church's organist for seventeen years. In 1992, she was presented with the Cross and Flame award for her service to the Methodist Church. When the church built its new building, Mildred and her family contributed in the selection and funding of a new organ. As a tribute, she was invited to be the first musician to play the new organ.
Mildred traveled the world--Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa, the Holy Land, Europe and the United Kingdom. She would later lament that the only place she missed in her travels was the Soviet Union. At age 80, she hiked six miles to visit the city of Petra in Jordan. For her 90th birthday, she cruised through the Panama Canal. She always said that South Africa was her favorite destination, having traveled there twice with her friend, Clara Murphy.
In her spare time, Mildred enjoyed many hobbies. Knitting gifts and crafting ceramics for friends and family was a favorite pastime. She was an accomplished bridge player, a big football fan (Dallas Cowboys and Texas Aggies) and an avid golfer. During the summer months, she enjoyed playing in Dalhart Country Club's Friday afternoon nine hole scramble (she did so until she was 90). Mildred was not to be outwitted on her daily crossword puzzles, which she enjoyed throughout her lifetime.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, C.P. "Pete" Metcalf, her parents, Charles Wesley Lantz and Bertha Mae (Kelley) Lantz, her brother, Charles Leroy Lantz and two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Lantz Douglas and Anne Myrtle Lantz. Mildred is survived by her four children and their spouses, Michael Phenix Metcalf of Dallas, Texas, Nancy Kay Bryant (Vernon W. Bryant, Jr.) of Ft. Worth, Texas, Jerry Lynn Metcalf (Sharyn Metcalf) of Houston, Texas, and Barry Keith Metcalf (Diana Metcalf) of Dalhart; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Amy Bowers (Adam Bowers) of Dalhart, Christopher Metcalf of Amarillo, Texas, Vernon W. Bryant, III (Chelsey Bryant) of Austin, Texas, Theron Lantz Bryant (Amy Bryant) of Ft. Worth, Texas, Megan Williams (Jason E. Williams) of Houston, Texas, Kerry Ringgold (John Ringgold) of Joshua, Texas, Jill Metcalf of Dallas, Texas, Barry K. Metcalf, II (Danna Metcalf) of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Lauren Waggoner (Justin Waggoner) of Dalhart; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
The Metcalf family would like to extend their thanks to the staff attending to Mildred's care in her six years at the Legacy Assisted Living Center in Dalhart.
From 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 20, 2021, the family received friends for visitation at Horizon Funeral Home, 701 Elm Ave. in Dalhart. On Saturday morning, August 21, 2021, the family gathered for a private graveside service followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 601 Rock Island, in Dalhart. For those who could not attend, you are encouraged to watch online at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV_NCLTt7DY8t1Fkk0ZjzSg.
Please visit Mildred's online memorial tribute at HorizonFuneral.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with the family. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks you to send donations to the Central United Methodist Church Building Fund, 601 Rock Island, Dalhart, Texas 79022 or the charity of your choice.