Mildred Anna (Rudolf) Stein

Mildred Anna Stein (nee Rudolf) was born on August 12, 1923 in Baltimore, MD.  She was a successful businesswoman, skillful homemaker, and caring mother who brought out the best in her children, whether they liked it or not.  Mil had an unrivaled zest for life that spilled over into the lives of those around her.  She was comfortable in city, town, or country but was at her best when she could dress in the latest fashions for a night on the town. 

Her early years were spent growing up in Baltimore and a summer place on the Byrd River where she swam, fished, crabbed, and went boating. She amazed her children in later years with the fact that she used to swim across a river filled with eels and snakes.  Mildred knew what it was like to grow up in a large family of five older brothers and their wives and families, but had special treatment as the youngest and the only daughter. She was educated at Patterson Park High in Baltimore, MD and began her working life as a bookkeeper at Hess Shoes in Baltimore.  She had a dressmaker that would make dresses she designed or adapt fancy clothing she was given, enabling her to look the part of woman-about-town keeping the men guessing, while depleting her salary.  This early phase of Mildred’s life changed when several offers of marriage by Luther Stein of Abingdon, MD were finally accepted, leading to a long marriage of 64 years ending only with Luther’s passing in 2012.

Mildred lived most of her life in Abingdon where she learned to cook wonderful meals, can vegetables from Luther’s garden, made her own clothes, and raised a family.  Reluctantly, she learned to camp and ski with her family.  She outfitted her home with every new gadget that she found on her expanding shopping trips, covering at first centers in and near Baltimore and following the increasing development of the country into suburbs.  She was a good neighbor whose skill at disciplining children was shared with the neighborhood.  Mil loved to dress well and tried to transfer that love to her children, with varying degrees of success.  She also started traveling with a large group of girlfriends to New York City and then other locations up and down the East Coast, always returning with thoughtful gifts for her children.  Mildred and Luther’s Abingdon home was a meeting place for family and friends, especially the world-famous summer barbecue and beef roasts with attendees as far away as the boroughs of New York City.

She and Luther retired to Florida in 1987, eventually buying property and building a home near Vero Beach.  She enjoyed early-bird eating (as usual) in the many nearby restaurants, traveling to various sites in Florida, shopping (also as usual) in the numerous towns and shopping centers, and frequently hosting family and friends on vacations, visits, and holidays.  She and Luther also traveled frequently to visit their children and grandchildren in Annapolis MD, Herndon VA, and Santa Fe NM.  She moved to Herndon in 1997 to be near her grandson and make sure he had enough discipline in his life.  She and Luther lived in various apartments in the Herndon area and also moved to Annapolis and then back to Herndon, exhibiting evidence of possible gypsy blood from her Czech inheritance.

Mildred loved traveling over the years including vacations to Miami and elsewhere in Florida, New England and New York City (one of her favorite places to visit), and family visits to Maryland, Virginia, and New Mexico.  She traveled to Austria for a family ski vacation and always harbored a desire to see the Czech Republic where her parents were born and raised. Unfortunately that desire could not be met, however she was able to stand on Czech soil at the embassy in Washington, D.C.  She loved going to the beach, dancing the jitterbug, and bowling high scores in a league.  As is clear to anyone who knew Mildred, she loved her immediate and extended family and was never as happy as when sharing meals and parties with them.  One of her last and biggest parties, hosted at Robin and Ray’s Resort in South Carolina, was her 98th Birthday Extravaganza followed immediately by a baby shower for her soon to be great granddaughter Violet.

Mildred’s last days were spent with her children and their spouses and niece Debby Rudolph Bradley (and her granddog Cocoa), enjoying her food right to the end including a last taste of Maryland crabs cakes.  Mildred passed away peacefully in the early hours of August 5, 2022, surrounded by her daughter Robin Fatz (Ray) and two sons Clifford (Lynn) and Michael (Judy) Stein. Since April, Mildred was lovingly cared for at Robin and Ray’s home.  Her legacy will carry into the future through three grand children: Adam Fatz, Fiona Stein, and Karl (Kate) Stein, and one great grandchild Violet Stein.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held in the fall.  Please check this webpage later for details.  The family believes that Mom Stein is feasting on lobster and crab cakes with the Angels, Dad Stein, and the family and friends that have gone ahead of her. Mildred was aided lovingly aided through her last transition by GHC Hospice Services of Savannah, GA and Integrity Homecare of Hilton Head, SC.  Their guidance and care were very much appreciated.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts in Mildred’s memory be given online at www.ghchospice.com or made by check mailed to the GHC Hospice Foundation, PO Box 15665, Savannah, GA 31416.

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