Mildred Saltsman McAllister

Mildred Saltsman McAllister, 86, died Sept. 29, 2014, in Tarboro, N.C. She was the daughter of Neotia and Clarence Saltsman of Avoca, N.Y., and the wife of John Ottosen McAllister. Mildred McAllister was a woman of many skills who lived a life rich with travel and friends. With John, she lived in Colesville, N.Y., and Marathon, Fla., until 1966 when John was hired by the United States Information Agency (Voice of America). They lived overseas for 15 years, residing in Rhodes, Greece, Baguio City, the Philippines, and Monrovia, Liberia, before moving to Washington, D.C., and retiring to Rogers, Ark., where they lived for over 25 years. Always interested in other countries, Mildred's travels took her around the world. She visited Egypt, Israel, South Africa, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Finland, England, Scotland, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Alaska, and toured South America and Europe, as well as most of the continental United States. She, like her husband, was a very self-sufficient and creative individual; together they built seven houses in New York, Florida and Arkansas. While living in the Florida Keys and raising five children, she also took flying lessons and completed solo flights. She was admired for her great cooking and enjoyed entertaining friends with wonderful parties. She was an accomplished seamstress, and an avid golfer and painter. She was fond of classical music, theater and art. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John Ottosen McAllister; and their son, David. She is survived by four children, Daniel, Dennis, Catherine and Douglas; 10 grandchildren; and three siblings, Alice, Ruth and Stephen. She was predeceased by five brothers and sisters, Irwin, Harry, Helen, Martha and Mary Etta. Her life will be celebrated in a memorial service to be held in Western New York.