Fred W. "Jack" Mills

MSgt. Fred W. ""Jack"" Mills, Air Force Retired, age 98, went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, January 21, 2016 in Franklin, NC. He was born on December 18, 1917 in Piper, AL, near present-day West Blocton, to Fred Carlyle Mills and Leila Creel Mills.
After working on the family farm, then mining coal for about three years during the Great Depression, he joined the Army on January 9, 1941. He was selected for the Air Corps. in 1942, then retired at Keesler AFB after a total of 20 years' service. While on active duty, he served in the Pacific Theater of World War II from 1944-1946, then in the Korean War from 1950-1952. He flew as a crew member on long distance weather reconnaissance missions, including the first Hurricane Hunters mission out of West Palm Beach, FL in 1946.
He settled in Handsboro, MS in 1953 with his wife, Velma Mae Crim Mills, of McMinnville, TN, who he married on October 13, 1944. Shortly after retirement from active duty in 1961, he began his career with Civil Service as a postal clerk in Handsboro. After about 8 months, he was transferred back to Keesler AFB, where he spent 21 years as an avionics instructor, as well as a course and test writer.
MSgt. Mills was preceded in death by his wife, Velma; his parents, Fred and Leila Mills; and three sisters, Toni Mills, June Mahaffey and Nena Kyle Allen.
Survivors include his son Aaron Carlyle Mills and wife Patricia of Franklin, NC; and his brother, Clyde Marlon Mills of Alabaster, AL.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 12 Noon at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, MS, with a visitation for family and friends from 11am until the service. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to BEAMS Bible Distribution Ministry, P.O. Box 10200, Gulfport, MS 39505-0200. The online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.riemannfamily.com