Mildred Roberta Black

Mildred Roberta Black, born September 20, 1919, in Sabetha, KS, died July 7, 2015, at Aldersgate Village, Topeka, KS. She was the daughter of Melvin Orlo Johnson and Mary Margaret Anderson Johnson, who preceded her in death.

Mildred graduated from Topeka High School in 1937, attended the University of Kansas and studied pharmacy. She married Frederick E. Totten in 1940, and lived on various army bases during World War II. They had two living children, Mary Anne Totten and Robert E. Totten, and one stillborn child, Ronald. She lived in Kentucky and West Virginia, working on the Raleigh County Bookmobile in West Virginia, before returning to Topeka in 1965. She was divorced in 1960 and married Wayne Black in 1970.They lived in Highland Park until his death in 1998. She worked at the Topeka Public Library in the children's department, was bookkeeper for the Kansas State Nurses Association, and the State of Kansas Social Rehabilitation Services until she retired in 1984. She moved to Aldersgate Village in 2001, and participated in many of the activities there, including calling bingo, singing with the Aldersgate singers, playing chimes, and serving as secretary for the Village Council. Mildred was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and sang in the choir and played in the hand bells for over 40 years. After moving to Aldersgate, she became a member of the Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church and continued to sing and play in the choir and hand bell choir. She was a member of the United Methodist Women for many years. Mildred was a 50 year member of the Order of The Eastern Star, Beaulah Chapter, the Beulah Emeralds, and a 40 year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mildred traveled in most of the 48 contiguous United States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, and Great Britain. Whenever anyone asked, "Do you want to go?" she always said, "Yes!" She enjoyed her family, reading, playing Scrabble, pinochle, and trivia.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Anne Totten, MD, of Exeter, NH; son, Bob (Bonnie) Totten, of Topeka; two grandchildren, Jeremy (Jennifer) Totten, of Lawrence, KS, and Nicholas Totten, of Maryville, MO; one great-granddaughter, Katy Coats; and two step-granddaughters, Jessie White and Amanda Walton.

Memorial services will be at Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church, 7433 SW 29th St., Topeka, KS on Saturday, July 11, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church, 7433 SW 29th St., Topeka, KS 66614, or Aldersgate Village, 7200 Asbury Dr., Topeka, KS 66614.

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