Mildred Hart

Mildred Buster Hart, an indominable soul, passed away at an assisted living facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 7, 2026, at age 100. Mildred was born on January 26, 1926, to Charles and Rae (Bryan) Buster in Wilmington, Ohio. She and her siblings attended the segregated Midland Elementary School, of which her Uncle Squire Buster was the principal. (Tellingly, her mother, Rae, attended the integrated Main Building Elementary School thirty-five years earlier.) She and her siblings helped out in the family businesses: Buster’s Restaurant and Buster’s Florists. Mildred graduated from Wilmington High School in 1944 and had hoped to attend Wilmington College. However, at that time, Black students were directed to Wilberforce College, which Mildred declined to attend. Mildred married William J. Hart, a Tuskegee Airman, from Washington Court House, Ohio, in July 1947. For the next decade and a half In Wilmington, Mildred (and Bill) raised three children, connected regularly with their extended families, and integrated Wilmington’s bowling alley and the public town pool. During this time, she held several secretarial jobs with the Department of Defense at Wright Patterson Airforce Base in Dayton, Ohio, and at the Strategic Air Command base in Wilmington. In 1962, Mildred relocated with her family to Westford, Massachusetts, when Bill’s job with the Department of Defense was transferred from Wright Patt to Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts. After Bill retired in 1972, he and Mildred opened and operated Chelmsford Camera in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (1973-83). At the time, theirs was the only Black-owned camera store in the nation.

After enjoying retirement in New England playing tennis and golf, gardening, trying their hand at casinos, visiting the Atlantic shore regularly, cruising the Caribbean, and traveling throughout New England, Mildred and Bill were ready to move closer to family. In 1999, they relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana, and lived just minutes from their daughter, Christina, and her family. The next twenty-five years were filled with family reunions and gatherings, watching grandchildren grow, reading, discussing politics and history, lunching with her new loving neighbors, and dining on sea food as often as possible.

Mildred is predeceased by her parents; her husband, Bill, for over 70 years; her son-in-law, Bill; and six siblings: Wayne, Charlene, Emma, twins Janice and Harry, and Marian. She is survived by her brother Jack of Springfield, Ohio; her daughter, Christina, of Indianapolis; her son, Bill (Eva) of Middlebury, VT; and son Jim (Natalie) of Hollansburg, Ohio. Mildred is also survived by eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service for Mildred will be held at a future date.