Walter Mills

Walter R. Mills, 81, a resident of rural Columbia City at Tri-Lakes, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday morning, October 29, 2014 at the family residence on Shriner Lake. Mr. Mills was born in 1933 in Detroit, a son of Harold and Mary (Falba) Mills. He moved to Fort Wayne as a child with his parents, and was a U. S. Army veteran. In 1954 he was married in Fort Wayne to Betty Truelove, and lived there until moving to his lake home in 1996. He was employed at International Harvester in Fort Wayne for 33 years, retiring as a tool research engineer in 1983. A member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, he enjoyed fishing, living at his lake home, and most especially loved and cherished his family. The surviving relatives include his wife Betty, to whom he was married for over 60 years; his children Elizabeth (Gary) Jones of Lebanon, Mo., Michael (Candace) Mills of Columbia City, Frank (Melinda) Mills of Fredericksburg, Tx., Paul (Jennifer) Mills of Columbia City, and Patricia (Pete Vaughn) Kelley of Fort Wayne; 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Joan Romine. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p. m. on Monday, November 3, 2014, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco with Father Danney Pinto, the celebrant. The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 5 p. m. Sunday at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Ege Catholic Cemetery, Noble County. For those who wish, memorials may be directed for masses. ****************************************************