Grandma Flora

Flora Von Allmen Mitchell (nickname Flo), Passed away January 10th, 2007.

Her parents came by ship from Switzerland to America before she was born, and settled in Kentucky. She was the next to the youngest of 7 children: Otto, Julius, Matilda, Freda, Hilda, Flora, and Freddy. The youngest child, her little brother Freddy, was killed by a streetcar when he was only 5 years old. She was only 8 years old when her mother died. Her father never remarried and raised his children himself (with help from the older sisters).Her father and his brothers owned a large dairy, Von Allmen Dairy, in Louisville. She grew up on the dairy farm and still remembers roller-skating in the dairy barn where there was concrete. Her dad had a fruit orchard and grew vegetables on the farm also, including an asparagus bed.

She graduated from Atherton High School and attended secretarial school. She met her future husband because they rode the same bus on occasion, and he started riding his bicycle to visit her.

She married Harry Morton Mitchell of Louisville on May 19, 1934. Harry was a manager with Southern Bell Telephone Company, which required that they move around the state many times. They lived in Louisville, Harlan, Georgetown, Richmond, Paris, Winchester, and Frankfort KY.

Flo became a widow when her husband died suddenly of an aneurysm while they were vacationing in Daytona Beach, Florida with friends. They had just attended the Daytona 500 race and were eating dinner when he collapsed. He was only 60 years old at the time. She never remarried, although I am sure she had offers. She responded to me once about that saying, "I have already been married." She loved playing golf, was an excellent artist, and took to knitting and quilting in her golden years. It is said I resemble her in looks. I can see it in my nose and eyes. I did inherit her talent for the arts.

Two of the things I remember her saying to me:
"I loved your grandfather very much. He was a wonderful man." Its the ONLY time I ever saw her cry.

I asked her once if you could go back and do anything, what would it be, She responded,
"I always wanted to learn how to fly a plane. I would take flying lessons."

She was a very funny woman. Loved to laugh. Still spunky up until the final hours. She drank bourbon every day. Loved some TV sports, and Wheel of Fortune. Despite her love for Pizza and chinese food, she kept her girlish figure all through her life. I am sure that my father is hurting right now, and wish I was there to help him. But as life goes, it was her time.

Rest in peace Granny. We loved you.