Mildred Rebecca (Balian) Stockdale

Mildred Rebecca Stockdale, née Balian

December 8, 1927  –  September 15, 2017

Millie was the second of three children born to Edward and Venus Balian, while they were living in west Philadelphia.  Her father and mother were Armenians who had emigrated from Turkey and had met in Philadelphia. Her father was a dentist and mother (known for many years as Amah) had trained as a nurse in Turkey.  

Brought up in a Christian home, Millie trusted in Jesus Christ for her salvation and committed her life to serving him. Millie was for several years the organist and choir director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and became a member of Tenth Presbyterian Church in 1952. 

After graduating from West Philadelphia High School, Millie went on to Bob Jones University where she received her undergraduate degree, then to Temple University where she received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. Millie loved learning and continued to take graduate courses for many years. 

Millie taught from the early 1950's until 2006 mostly in the Lower Merion School District except for one year teaching at a US Army base in Japan and several years teaching at a US Army base in England.  Millie especially loved to teach 4th grade and in later years elementary school gifted children. Even in retirement Millie enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language to international women in her home. Most of these were from Japan. She would ask them what they were interested in learning and tell them that she wanted to read the Bible with them as part of their lessons. 

Millie and Clive met at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia where they were married in 1965.  They lived in England for ten years returning to Philadelphia in 1975 with a son Greg and daughter Rebecca.   They opened their home to many visitors and friends and many appreciated Millie’s Middle East cooking skills and the genuine interest she took in others.

Millie was very loving and wise in her care for family and friends and this quickly became apparent to all she met. It was particularly true for her children Greg (Kathleen) and Rebecca and her grandchildren Max, Owen and Brynn who brought her much delight. It extended also to her friends and students who would share with her their joys and troubles.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister Araxie and brother Herbert. 

A service of thanksgiving to God for the life of Mildred Stockdale will be held on Saturday October 7th at 2 pm at Tenth Presbyterian Church, 17th and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Tenth Presbyterian Church – (designated for “1710 Capital Campaign”), 1700 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.