Mildred Ann Bell Ricca

Mildred Ann Bell Ricca departed this life October 27, 2024, and was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born February 11, 1933, to John Andrew and Lillian McCollum Bell in Clarkson, Milam County, Texas.  Upon the death of her father in 1942, the family moved to Bryan when she was 9-year-old.  She married her husband, Johnnie in 1952 and celebrated 72 years of marriage.

She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1949 at the age of 16 and attended McKenzie Baldwin College. Once she learned shorthand she began working in the law office of W. T, Moore and Marshall Spivey.  She began her Civil Service career at Bryan Air Force Based in 1951 and transferred to the Social Security Administration in 1958. Mildred worked there until 1995 and retired as a Claims Representative. She was awarded the Commissioner’s citation, Social Security highest award for outstanding service in Baltimore, Maryland in 1968. She was recognized for 42 years of Civil Service work in Baltimore in 1992.

Family meant everything to Mildred, immediate and extended. For many years she hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas for all. She enjoyed attending her children and grandchildren’s participation in sports and never missed a game. “Mimi” as her grandchildren called her, loved to dance and taught each of her grandchildren to two-step.

She was devoted to her two sons, Drew and his wife Janet and David and his wife Mary Ann.  Her greatest joy was being a grandmother and great grandmother to her beloved grandchildren Lauren Scott and husband Layne of Little Elm, Rachel Burnett and husband Keith of Celina and John David Ricca and wife Emily of Church Hill, Tennessee, great granddaughters Klein Burnett, Remi Ricca, Quinn Ricca and Joey Ricca and great grandson Crawford Burnett. She is also survived by 17 nieces and nephews who lovingly called her Boobie. She was preceded in death by her husband Johnnie, her parents, two brothers Marvin Bell and John Bell, two sisters Dorothy Garrett and Ruth Malazzo Scarmardo, three nieces, one nephew and a special great nephew, Garrett Maliska.

Mildred was a member of Central Church and the Koinonia Sunday School Class. She volunteered in the Welcome Center, the prayer room and office of Central. A celebration of life will be held at Central Church, 1991 FM158, College Station on November 8 at 11:00am. Mildred requested in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Central Church. There will be a private burial for the family.

Express condolences with the family at www.CallawayJones.com.