Dona Mills Bozman

Dona Mills Bozman was born on November 25, 1918 at home in a two room house in Shelby County, Texas. She was the middle of nine children born to James and Mary Cox Mills. Gerome, Lonnie, Susie, Ethel, Elbert, Irene, Merty Mae, and Dorothy were her siblings and they all predeceased her. She attended Camp Tie School. It only went to the eighth grade, so when she graduated her older brother Gerome came and got her to live with him in Gladewater, Texas and finish high school. She graduated Gladewater High School in 1936. Her aunt thought she would make a good nurse and encouraged her to go to school in Shreveport, LA. After graduating she got a job in New Orleans, LA. After Pearl Harbor her brother Elbert joined the Navy. She decided to join also. They would not accept her because she did not weigh 100 pounds. Soon after, the Red Cross contacted her and told her they were forming a mobile nursing unit for the army. They accepted her although she did not meet the weight requirement. She went to train at Fort Benning, GA. They had all types of training for about a year. Then they traveled by train at night with the shades drawn (They were a war secret) to New York where they boarded a ship to go abroad. They were accompanied by warships to protect them from German U boats. Soon before arriving in North Africa they were put on alert and had to stay inside…and the war ship sunk a German submarine right beside them. In North Africa they set up camp. Dona was in charge of 19 tents of patients, with very little help. From there they moved across Europe following the troops working from existing hospitals. When the war was over, she took a ship back to the US and a train back to Gladewater. There she bought a house with the GI bill and moved her Mom and baby sister Dorothy there to live. She worked in Dr. Leake’s private hospital where she met Wallace Bozman, another veteran recently home from the Pacific front. They fell in love and married. They bought a house with his GI bill and set up house. She worked lots of jobs in the area as an RN until she retired. Wallace died in 1989, after that she enjoyed volunteering at the Gladewater Museum and spending time with the local family she adored.

She is survived by one daughter, Patti (Steve) Painter of Hot Springs, AR and one son, Don (Bettye Ann) Bozman of Houston, Texas. She has three grandchildren: Ali Painter, Codi Painter and Bryan Bozman. There are great grandchildren: Hazel and Cyrus Ware and Russell and Kristi Bozman. She is survived by lots of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews that live all across the country. She was an amazing woman, loved by many….a real American hero.

Preparations were handled by Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater, Texas with the service being held at North Main Church of Christ in Gladewater at 2 PM Sunday October 25, 2020. The family will be at 704 Canfield Street, Gladewater, Texas. Memorials can be made to the North Main Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1226, Gladewater, Texas 75647.