Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mildred Irene Zoss

March 13, 1922 - Nov. 22 1996

South Bend Tribune 11/23/1996

Mildred Irene Zoss, 74, of South Tuxedo Drive, South Bend, Ind., died at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, in Regency Place, following a brief final illness. She had successfully battled cancer since 1974. She was born in Valparaiso, Ind., on March 13, 1922.

As Mildred Warner, on Sept. 25, 1944, she married Abraham Zoss of South Bend. While both were teachers, they had an idea which turned into The Rubber Shop Inc., a business that later grew into Royal Rubber Co. Mr. Zoss suffered a massive stroke in 1959, requiring Mrs. Zoss to enter the business, plus act as caregiver for her husband, who passed away in 1993.

She was a graduate of Ball State Teachers College; a member of the American Association of University Women; Panhellenic Association; Kappa Kappa Kappa; Alpha Sigma Alpha; Altrusa Club; St. Joseph County Cancer Society; and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also active in the United Methodist Women, was a long-time teacher, and held various congregational leadership positions at Grace United Methodist Church in South Bend.

She is survived by two daughters, Mary A. Zoss of Wheeling, Ill., and Sara J. Ethier of St. Paul, Minn.; three sons, Thomas W. of South Bend, Ind., Paul A. of Des Moines, Iowa, and Robert E. of Evansville, Ind.; 12 grandchildren; and one sister, Betty Davis of Valparaiso, Ind. She was preceded in death by one sister, Marjorie Theriault of Hyattsville, Md.; and two brothers, William S. Warner of Washington, D.C., and Bob Oplinger of Las Vegas, Nev.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, 435 S. Ironwood Drive, South Bend. Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church, 3012 S. Twyckenham Drive, South Bend. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church