Robert Arley Mills 1928 - 2004

MILLS, CRAWFORD, PIRTLE, DOTY

Posted By: Shirley Braun Plumb (email)
Date: 2/22/2011 at 22:30:03

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Robert A. "Bob" Mills, 76, Muscatine, died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004, at Genesis Medical Center - West Campus, Davenport.

Services were 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home, 2907 Mulberry Ave. The Rev. Amy Johnson officiated. Casket bearers were Dan Keller, Kenny Fisher, Lee Spilger, Tim Spilger, David Spilger and Mike Clemens. Honorary casket bearers were Richard Mills, Donald Mills and Zeb Brown.

Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery with full military rites by the combined units of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1565 and American Legion Post 27. After the burial, a time of coffee, dessert and fellowship was held in the Community Room at the funeral home. Memorials were directed to Genesis Hospice.

Mr. Mills was born April 17, 1928, in Muscatine County, the son of Arley L. and Jessie Crawford Mills. He married Eva L. Pirtle May 20, 1951, in Muscatine.

He was an U.S. Army veteran during the Korean War, serving with Occupation Forces overseeing tank maintenance.

He was a member of Musserville United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post 27, VFW Post 1565 and the ABC American Bowling Association.

He was employed at International Harvester for 37 years before retiring in 1983 from his first job. He began his second career driving for Muscabus for 20 years where he was awarded the Senior Worker of the Year Award through the Senior Internship Program from Sen. Tom Harkin.

He enjoyed bowling with his brothers on the Tuesday night Port City Bowling League for more than 40 years. He enjoyed maintaining small engines, helping with family projects and he especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife; six grandchildren, Nathaniel, Natalia, Dena, Melissa, Makala and Jesse; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Donald Mills and wife Mary Ann and Richard Mills and wife Velma, all of Muscatine; and a sister, Betty Doty of Park Forrest, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Dennis in 2004 and James in 1998.

Muscatine Journal Tuesday, August 24, 2004