Skinner, Hilda E.

SKINNER

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 6/4/2014 at 14:56:47

Skinner, Hilda E -
Hilda E. Skinner, age 97, passed away on December 13 at Heather Manor Retirement Center, Des Moines, IA. Hilda
was born on December 26, 1905, to Ernest and Mary Etta Skinner in Clearfield. Her mother and grandmother Grant sat
in the sun on the front porch on December 25. The day Hilda was born, grandmother Skinner had to walk through snow
drifts to see the new baby.
She became a member of the Clearfield Christian Church in 1915 and played the piano for Sunday School. She
attended grades and high school in Clearfield and graduated in 1924 with honors.
Following high school graduation, she traveled by train to Cedar Falls to enroll in Iowa State Teachers College. Hilda
received a Primary Teaching Diploma from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1927.
She taught first and second grades in Clearfield from 1927 through 1930. Her sister, Margaret, was in her class.
During the years she taught in Clearfield, she lived with her parents, played the piano for Church, enjoyed bridge clubs
with teachers who roomed and boarded in Clearfield homes. During her teaching career, she attended summer classes
with friends at Iowa State Teachers College, National College of Education, Evanston, ILL, and Colorado University,
Boulder. She graduated in 1945 with a B.A. Degree in Primary Education from Northern Iowa University, Cedar Falls,
IA. with credits toward a Masters Degree.
Her teaching career took her to Villisca (1930-1937), Oak Creek, CO., (1937-1938), Grinnell, (1938-1944),
Galesburg, ILL., (1944-1959), and Northern Kansas City (1959-1960). She had planned to teach in Kansas City until
she retired, but when her mother became ill, Hilda returned to Clearfield. She was offered the teaching position in first
grade. For the next 12 years, she taught first grade in Clearfield and retired in 1973. While Hilda taught in
Clearfield, she was active in many community projects; Christian Church, Library Board, Literary Clubs, Bridge
Clubs, and was co-president of the Women's Club. She organized a children's reading center in the Library.
She loved to travel with her many friends and had been all over the United States and in some foreign countries.
In 1987. she sold the home that had been in the family since 1900 and moved to an apartment in a teachers'
retirement center (Heather Manor) in Des Moines. From 1987-1994, she volunteered at Lucas School (Des Moines
Public School System) and did personal tutoring, read to the blind, and participated in the Pen Pal program for three
years. For five years, the Governor of Iowa honored Hilda for her volunteering in the schools and had lunch with her at
Heather Manor. She enjoyed her many friends, reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing bridge, and participating in the
many activities in Heather Manor.
Survivors include her sister Margaret Kmiotek, brother-in-law Stan, nieces Linda and Stephanie, nephew Michael
Kmiotek, (Maria), and great nephew Mike Kmiotek.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Donald.
Funeral services were held at the Clearfield Christian Church and burial was in the Clearfield Cemetery,
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday February 4, 2004