Donald William Mills' Obituary
MILLS, DONALD WILLIAM of Plano, Texas, passed away on April 16, 2013. He was born on September 19, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri to W.E. (Bill) and Dorothy Stone Mills. His parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Stacy, of Plano; son, Tim Mills of Lynchburg, Virginia, his wife Langhorne and children Kyle, Robert, Charlie, and Anna Raine; daughter, Julie Cannon of Olathe, Kansas, her husband Mike and son Luke; and step-daughter, Gretchen Darby, her husband James and daughter Presley. He is also survived by his sister Bobette Boyd and her husband Dick, of Frisco, Texas; brother Dick Mills, of Branson West, Missouri; and sister Jeannie Dunham and her husband Ron, of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Don leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Don attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri and Wichita State in Wichita, Kansas where he majored in Mechanical Engineering and was a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity. He joined the Army Reserves during his college years. He was recalled during the Berlin Crisis with the Wisconsin National Guard where he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State. Don grew up working in his father’s plumbing business. He moved to Texas in 1980 where he continued his career in real estate and eventually mortgage banking. He and Stacy married in 1984. He retired as President of Plano Mortgage Brokers in 1999. Don was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed quail and pheasant hunting as well as fishing and golf. He passed on his love of fishing and the outdoors to his son and grandson. He was a big sports fan, especially football, which he enjoyed playing in high school and college. He supported The University of Texas Longhorns, the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Texas Rangers, as he became a “Texan” over the years. In his later years, he also spent many hours woodworking, gardening, and traveling. He and Stacy particularly enjoyed visiting such places as Cape Cod, the Florida Keys, and the pacific coast of California. One of his favorite trips was to Napa Valley where he and Stacy took a sunrise hot air balloon trip over the Napa countryside. Another favorite spot was sitting on the dock in Sausalito, California watching the ferries come and go into San Francisco harbor. The Texas Hill country and the many wineries of that area were favorite go-to spots for a quick get-away. Don was a thoughtful and caring husband, patient and loving dad, and a most gentle and warm-spirited Papa. He loved the visits from his children and grandchildren. Everyone who knew Don enjoyed his company. He will be sorely missed by all of his family and friends. Don’s family wants to thank Community Hospice of Texas for the gentle care and support they gave to both Don and his family during these past few weeks. A special thanks to Penny Glover, his caretaker and new-found friend, Diana Lambrecht, for her guidance and support, and the many Nurses and staff who cared for him. Services will be held at Restland Dallas on Friday, April 19th at 9:30am, followed by a graveside service in the Garden of Prayer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Don’s memory to The American Cancer Society, The American Lung Association, or The COPD Foundation.
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