FARMINGTON – Mildred G. Watkins, 86, passed away at The Pierce House in Farmington on Friday, May 18.

She was born in Island Pond, Vt., on Feb. 4, 1921, the youngest of six children, to Archie E. and Cora (Prince) Smith, formerly of Monmouth. Mildred lived with her father and stepmother, Alice McEdwards Smith, after the loss of her mother at age 10.

She attended schools in Island Pond, Vt., Monmouth, Union, Jay and Laconia, N.H.

During World War II, she began her career in Civil Service for the Air Force as a bookkeeper at several air base service clubs.

On May 3, 1952, she married Sgt. James Watkins, USAF, from Springfield, Mo. Mr. Watkins died on Jan. 27, 1956. Mildred never remarried and continued her work in finance at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala., where she was in charge of payroll for reservists on active duty.

During retirement, she enjoyed her poodles, which she loved dearly, especially “Little Bit.” She also enjoyed family visits to Maine and watching the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox baseball games.

In Dec. 1999, she moved to Mobil, Ala., and came to Livermore Falls to visit her sister, Elva Jones and family, in June 2000. Due to health issues, she never returned to Alabama. Mildred had been a resident at The Pierce House, Farmington, since November 2001.

She is survived by a brother, Timothy L. Smith and his wife, Jewell, of West Palm Beach, Fla., and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister, Elva Jones; and three brothers, infant George, Leslie “Sherwood,” and Hebert Smith.

Her family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the director and staff at The Pierce House for their loving care of Mildred during the past 5 years.