Mildred Drahos Noonan

Mildred Drahos Noonan, 93 "Mitzi", of Oakwood, Ga. died Thursday March 10, 2011 at Peachtree Plantation Assisted Living Home. Mitzi was born in Lorain OH and graduated from Lorain High School where she played on the Ohio Women's Championship softball team. After graduation , Mitzi met Raymond Noonan, a professional musician, while working at Stouffer's Resturant. Mitzi and Ray were married in 1941 at Oldstone Church, Cleveland, OH. After the wedding they moved to New York where Ray played the trombone with the Artie Shaw and Bennie Goodman bands. After several years on the road with various bands, they moved back to Ohio to start a family.

Mitzi worked for Sears, Roebuck & Company for 25 years in Ohio and Florida. In 1953, they relocated to St. Petersburg, FL to be closer to her parents. After several moves she opened a gift shop in Helen, GA with her husband. The gift shop was called "The Barvarian Castle"; they operated this business for 11 years and retired in 1987.

Survivors inclued her son, Dennis Ray Noonan of Gainesville, GA; sister, Ellen Wissinger of Oberlin, OH and brother, Ed Drahos of Elyria OH; grandson, Dr. Justin Monroe and two great grandchildren, of Memphis, TN; nieces Linda Smith of Oberlin, OH; Gail Ogle of Pepperpike OH, and Beth Frey of Lagrange, OH; nephews Ed Drahos, Jr. of Richmond, VA and Jeff Drahos of Lakewood, OH.

She was preceded in death by her parents Steve and Vernoica Drahos; husband, Raymond Noonan in 1996, a World War II veteran; daughter, Patricia Rae Monroe in 1972. Interment will be with her husband at Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell FL. There will be no services.

Mason & Ward Funeral Home, 1190 McEver Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements