Claire Ann Coble Milligan

RICHMOND, Ind. – Claire Ann Coble Milligan, age 82, of Richmond, Indiana, died Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Reid Health. Born February 11, 1935, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Frank H. and Marcella Wimmer Coble, Claire Ann lived most of her life in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High School in 1953. She was a 1957 graduate of Purdue University, having majored in home economics and dietetics. Claire Ann was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and was awarded the Hidden Diamond Award from Purdue. She interned as a dietitian from 1957-1958 at the University of California Hospital in San Francisco, California; worked as a dietitian at Grace-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, from 1958-1959; and joined Reid Memorial Hospital in Richmond in 1959. Claire Ann was an avid volunteer, giving much of her time and love to the community in various ways. She was a volunteer instructor of nutrition for the Wayne County Welfare Department and the Richmond State Hospital. Claire Ann was a volunteer creator, organizer, and teacher of Clean Hands Cooking Class for elementary and middle school age children at Townsend Community Center for 13 years, where she also helped with adult sewing classes in the 60's and 70's. She was a volunteer probation officer in the 1970's; speaker with the Panel of American Women which produced programs discussing prejudice and discrimination because of race, religion, and national origin throughout the Wayne County community; and served on the Townsend Community Center Board in 1979. Claire Ann was a volunteer 4-H leader and Indiana State Fair dress review champion in 1953; served on the YWCA Board from 1961-1964 and Chairperson for YWCA Christmas Workshop; worker and decorator for Richmond Symphony Orchestra Festival of Trees fundraisers; creator, organizer, chairperson, and worker for all Townsend Community Center Garden Parties from 1988 to 2002; organizer, chairperson, and worker for all Central United Methodist Church Christmas Bazaars; organizer, chairperson, and worker for numerous events for civic, church, school, and service groups in the city including: Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Civic Theatre, Richmond Art Association, Boston Parent Teacher Organization, Central United Methodist Church, and Wayne County Republican Party. She was awarded the Charles Rodefeld Leadership Award for Philanthropy and Volunteerism. Claire Ann co-authored a cookbook, which has published two editions. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church. Her passions were her family and Townsend Center. Survivors include her husband, Thomas S. Milligan, who Claire Ann has enabled, supported, and inspired for 56 years; two daughters, Michelle (Mike) DeVaughn of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Nancy (Jay) Norton of Lubbock, Texas; son, Stuart Milligan of Richmond; seven grandchildren, Nathan DeVaughn, Audrey DeVaughn, Charlotte DeVaughn, John Ross Norton, Stuart Norton, Natalie Milligan, and Graham Milligan; sisters, Carla (Dave) Stidham of Richmond and Coleen Coble of Florida; brother, Ronald (Nancy) Coble of North Carolina; nieces; nephews; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jana Louise Milligan and parents. Visitation for Claire Ann Coble Milligan will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2017, at Central United Methodist Church, 1425 East Main Street, Richmond with Pastor Tom Ream officiating. Private burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to: Lamar Lundy Endowment for the Townsend Center, Wayne County Foundation, 33 South 7th Street, Suite 1, Richmond, IN 47374 or Central United Methodist Church, 1425 East Main Street, Richmond, IN 47374. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Claire Ann Coble Milligan

February 11, 1935 - March 21, 2017