Gail A. (Anderson) Milne

Gail A. Milne, nee Elizabeth Gail Anderson Milne, Born in St. Paul Minnesota, February 15, 1942 to Norman Lionel Anderson and Elizabeth Blanche Waters Anderson.  She died peacefully in her home on October 4, 2016.  She was predeceased by her parents, Norman and Elizabeth Anderson, and brother, Mark Anderson.  She is survived by her son David (Meagan) Milne of Fort Wayne and their two lovely children, William and Catherine, daughters, Beth Milne Stewart (Alex) of Indianapolis and Margaret Waters Milne of Fort Wayne.  Her wonderful companion Ben J. Bowdon, has completed her family and made her life happy, warm and love-filled.  She graduated with the outstanding class of 1960, (ask anyone) from Atherton High School, Louisville, KY as vice president of her class.  At Hanover College, she joined Phi Mu Sorority and subsequently married Richard Milne.  She thereafter graduated from the University of Louisville with a BS in elementary education.  Her lifelong friendships included high school and Hanover classmates.  In Louisville she taught at Brandeis Elementary School, was a member of the First Unitarian Church, the Junior League, and was active in political campaigns and civil rights.  The family moved to Fort Wayne, IN in 1978. Her children graduated from Homestead High School and have earned degrees from Wabash (1), IU (4), Ball State (1) and Butler (1).   Gail became part of the administration of the Allen County Public Library in the early 1980s, responsible for development and public relations.  She created the Friends of the Library, introduced the successful Gold Library Card, formalized the volunteer program, library book sales, author visits and participated in establishing a million-dollar endowment to support the humanities collections.   Bringing Alex Haley, Kurt Vonnegut and other authors for free public events made the library a more visible leader in local intellectual life.   She became General Manager of the Embassy Theatre Foundation as major restoration of lighting, stage floor, Paige Theater Organ and exterior stabilization of the Indiana Hotel were underway.   The 60th Anniversary Live Radio Show broadcast by WOWO from the stage of the Embassy drew huge crowds and was broadcast across the country twice.  In 1989 Gail became Vice President of the Lutheran Hospital Foundation, with a focus on raising funds for the construction of the current hospital.  That role segued into management of volunteers and oversight of gift shop operations.  She initiated and managed large events, like the company picnic for 5,000 and successful United Way campaigns.  She retired from Lutheran Hospital in 2008 after 18 years of service.  Her interests and volunteer activities have included serving as Regional Director and National Co-Chair of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Volunteer Service Corps and being on the national Board of Directors.  She was a board member of the Fox Island Alliance and served more than a dozen years on the Board of the Girl Scouts of the Limberlost Council, during which she participated in capital campaigns to support Camp McMillen, The Leadership and Learning Center and Camp Logan.  She also served on the Board of One Church One Offender, was among the first women members of the Downtown Rotary Club, and held membership in various professional organizations. Her personal interests included reading, gardening, camping, trail riding and the outdoors.  High points included camping at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico and primitive camping on Frasier Island, Australia.  
Her commitment to equality and human rights reflected her upbringing and religious beliefs as demonstrated by her continuous support and advocacy for United Way, The Heifer Project, Southern Poverty Law Center, HRC, Girl Scouts, NIPR, PBS and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne.  Please share expressions of sympathy by contributing to organizations she supported or of your choice.

A service celebrating her life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne 5310 Old Mill Road on Saturday, October 15 at 2 p.m.

Send a condolence to the family at www.northernindianafuneralcare.com or find us on www.facebook.com

Arrangements entrusted to Northern Indiana Funeral Care of Fort Wayne.

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