Sarah Ann PHILLIPS [4986]

  General Notes:

1863 SA Births Ade 27/336

Recorder (Port Pirie) Wednesday 1 Mar 1944
BEAUTIFUL LIFE ENDED
Death of Mrs. S. A. Middleton
Mrs. Sarah Ann Middleton, who was laid to rest at Murray Bridge last week, was a well-known old identity of the North. She had been at Murray Bridge on holiday only three, days and her death was sudden and quite unexpected. For the last five years she had been a semi-invalid, but it was not until the end that she became seriously ill.
Mrs. Middleton had lived in Pirie only eight years, but she was a popular resident, and with the late Mrs. Mill house, who died a few months ago, did valuable work, for the Ladies' Benevolent Society in Pirie, of which she was formerly president. Her two sons and daughter, Messrs. M. M. B. and D. B. Middleton and Miss. J. J. Wells, are well-known residents of the town.
Born at Wallaroo 81 years ago, Miss. Middleton was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Phillips. She spent most of her early life there and was married at Wallaroo on June 10, 1885, to the late Mr. George John Middleton. The 10 children of the family were all born in that district.
Her husband, who was at that time employed by South Australian Rail ways, was transferred to Burra and the family made their home there. Mr. Middleton was stationmaster there for a few years and was again transferred to Quorn to take a position as traffic superintendent. They were about seven years at Quorn, where Mr. Middleton later went into business. He died about 15 years ago.
After her husband's death Mrs. Middleton came to Pirie to live with her daughter, Mrs. Wells, for two years, then went to Newcastle, where she lived with her other daughter, Mrs. R. Huby, for six year's. It was in: May, 1936, that Mrs. Middleton returned to Pirie and with occasional trips away from the town had lived here since.
Throughout the various Northern towns which she visited Mrs. Middleton was renowned for her church work. At Quorn she was a tireless worker for the Church of England and at one time was president of the Mothers' Union in connection with that church.
She had little to do with the church in Pirie because of her poor health and spent most of her time knitting for her six grandchildren, who are in the services. During the last five years she had been practically, confined to her room and with much time on her hands turned out countless knitted garments for the services.
Mrs. Middleton leaves four sons and five daughters. They are:-Messrs. M. M. B., D. B. (both of Pirie), T. H. (Murray Bridge), and S. C. (Croydon Park). Mesdames J. J. Wells (Pirie), R. Huby (N.S.W.), C. E. H. Palmer (New haven, U.S.A.), W. Van Wagoner (Glen ridge, U.S.A.), and C. P. Schulz (St. Peters) . Her other son, the late Mr. P. G. Middleton, was killed in a railway accident.

Sarah married George John MIDDLETON [4985] [MRIN: 1658]. (George John MIDDLETON [4985] was born on 26 Mar 1862 in Le Fevre Peninsula, Adelaide, South Australia.)