Robert Lee Mills, Sr.

Friday December 2, 1932 ~ Monday April 17, 2023

Robert Lee Mills ("Bob") departed Ormond Beach on Planet Earth for his final home in
Heaven after a two-week illness from a stroke and dementia, and with loving attention from his wife and family. He was 90 years old.
Bob was born to John Carlysle Mills and Patie Beatrice Mills (nee McDaniel) in Adamsville, TN. He was next to the youngest of six boys and one girl and the last one surviving. Bob's family moved to the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC when he was 8-years old. Bob attended schools in Washington, DC and Mt. Rainier, MD. After high school, Bob enlisted in the Army's 82 nd Airborne in 1953. He attended Basic Training at Fort
Campbell, KY and went to "jump school" at Fort Benning, GA. His unit was scheduled to fight in the Korean Conflict, but when they arrived at Fort Bragg, NC, the diplomats were in "Peace Talks". Bob was in the 82 nd Airborne Division's 504 PIR until his honorable
discharge in 1956 and received several commendations. After his discharge, he worked in the building industry for a few months before enrolling in Harding College in Searcy, AR where he met Shelby Jean Bryant, who would become his wife one year later. They moved to Maryland where Bob resumed working as a Master Carpenter constructing custom-built houses with his older brother, Louie. He and Shelby became parents of four sons who were born in Washington, DC. They were living in Gambrills when Bob took a position in commercial construction as Construction Superintendent for M. Leo Storch Developer in Seabrook Acres with whom he was employed for 28-years. He and Shelby also bought a house three blocks from Bob's office where they lived (same house) for 43 years. After the death of his original employer, Bob transitioned into the Storch Company's General Manager. He then built (and co-owned) Glenn Dale Business Park in partnership with Joseph Weber. He also quietly
acquired properties for an industrial park for Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, a Boston, MA company. During this time Bob also held a
Realtors license and was half-owner of Forget-Me-Not Florist in Bowie MD (he and Shelby took floral design classes and
helped out during very times). After "failing retirement", Bob began remodeling houses, but only by word-of-mouth
recommendations. He came out of retirement twice to put two additions on the Silver Spring Church of Christ building. In 2005
Bob finally retired and he and Shelby moved to Ormond Beach, FL. Bob was an active member of the Church of Christ since 1957, and served as a Deacon (5 years) and Elder (21 years) and Bible Class teacher at Silver Spring Church of Christ in Maryland; and an Elder (6 years) of Holly Hill Church of Christ in Florida where he is currently a member. When his sons were that age, he served as a Cub Scout Webelos leader, Cub Master, and Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor. In younger years he enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, water-skiing, traveling,
photography, Disney World, Chesapeake Bay, John Kerr Reservoir, and the beach (especially the Outer Banks of North
Carolina; he and Shelby owned a house in Kitty Hawk for 21 years). He had a special love for children and dogs (especially
Boxers and Basset Hounds) as did they for him. He served as Chaplin of the Greater Daytona Chapter, Inc.'s 82 nd Airborne
Division Association (and "gung-ho" member). He was a member of the Maryland Club in Daytona Beach.

Bob is survived by his wife of 65-1/2 years, Shelby Mills of the home; his sons Lewis Bryant Mills (Saint Augustine, FL); Robert Lee Mills, Jr. and wife, Pamela (Daytona Beach, FL); Mark Hale Mills and wife Magriffe (Pensacola, FL); Dr. Carlon Scott Mills and his wife, Sue Ann (Clemmons, NC); his grandchildren Shannon Kubisiak and husband, Mike (Keystone Heights, FL); Melissa Lopez and husband Sebastian (Burke, VA); Robert W. Mills (Cape May, NJ); Kimberly Peranio and husband, Chris (Centreville, MD); Victoria McCullough and husband Seth (Greencastle, PA); Jenna Riley-Martin (Daytona Beach, FL); Jennifer Daniel and husband Antonio (Bethlehem, GA); Jessica Riley (Daytona Beach, FL); Louie E. Mills, II and wife Amanda (Sierra Vista, AZ); Tammy Mills (Grand Bay, AL); Marffee Le and husband Jimmy (Virginia Beach, VA); Brittany Sullivan and husband, John (Fairview, TN); Evan Mills and wife Shay (Winston-Salem, NC); Thomas Mills and wife Anna (Lewisville, NC); grandson-
in-law Christian King (Parkland, MD); sister-in-law Betty Mills (Farmville, VA); brother-in-law Tom Bryant and wife Rebecca (Monroe, LA); 24 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his "adopted" daughter and son Louise and Jody Venkatesan (Clarksville, MD).

Bob is predeceased by his parents; his brothers John Carlysle Mills, Jr. (Mabel); Mac Daniel Mills (Rina), Louie Edward Mills (Ruby), James Nathan Mills; Joe Frank Mills (Mae); his sister Patie Kathryn Vaughan (J. Calvin); his daughters-in-law Debra René Mills (nee Lee) and Cynthia Mills (nee Cousins); his granddaughters Ashlee King and McKenzie Mills.

Bob would appreciate that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts be made to the Mills Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Harding
University (Attn: Dan Campbell, Harding University, 915 E. Market Street Box 12238, Searcy, AR 72149-2238).

The Graveside Service with military honors will be Friday, April 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Veterans section of Daytona Memorial Park (1425 Bellevue Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114) followed by interment. The Visitation with Family will be Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Holly Hill Church of Christ (1725 Ridgewood Avenue, Holly Hill, FL 32117). The Memorial Service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Holly Hill Church of Christ.

Condolences may be shared with the Family here on our online guestbook.
Mr. Mills is under the loving care of Lohman Funeral Home, 1423 Bellevue Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114; (386) 267-1100.