Mildred dattner Ganchan

1918-2015

Mildred Ganchan, affectionately known as Muzzie, was a long time member of St. John the Divine and a faithful participant in their Hope of Glory Bible study. Mildred graduated with honors into that glory on Sunday, July 5. She was born in Houston on November 2, 1918 to Kenzie and Meg Dattner. A graduate of the class of 1940 of Rice Institute, Mildred made many life long friends there and found her forever sweetheart, Richard Price Ganchan. A few weeks after Pearl Harbor, Mildred drove to Bakersfield, California to marry Dick on January 4, 1942.

Although Mildred loved being a wife, mother and homemaker, with her love of singing and dancing she felt she had the talent to be another Dinah Shore. She spent a great deal of time trying to teach her children (and later grandchildren) good manners and correct grammar. She and Dick loved entertaining in Houston and at their restored home The Browning Plantation in Chappell Hill. She will long be remembered for her southern hospitality and biscuits.

Mildred’s whole life revolved around the Episcopal Church, from childhood at the Church of the Redeemer to St. Mark’s and then to St. John the Divine. As a child all activities were church centered. As a young mother she taught Sunday school and in her later years she loved her work with The Guild Shop. She was a faithful servant of the Lord.

Her last few years were spent at The Hallmark among new and old friends. She loved harmonizing with the Tuesday afternoon singing group and upon request would sing Princess Papuli. She never left the lunch or dinner table without a fresh coat of lipstick applied, without the benefit of a mirror, which left her companions in awe.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years Dick Ganchan. She is survived by her son Richard Ganchan Jr., and wife, Debbie of Reno, Nevada, daughters and sons-in-law Kenzie and David Hannah III, Susan and Lee Hancock, and Meg and B. Stephen Rice, all of Houston; grandchildren Phillip and Laura Romero, Michael and Leigh Ganchan, Randy and Meg Jack, Jake and Kelly Wypyszynski, David and Michele Hannah, Richard and Lana Hannah, John Hannah, Stephen Rice, Susan Watt, Scott and Meghan Jones, Elizabeth Hancock as well as sister-in-law Ann Ethridge and 18 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the sanctuary of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church located at 2450 River Oaks Blvd. 77019. If desired, memorials are requested for the Ganchan Scholarship at Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005.