Richard L. Mills

Richard L. Mills, 87, of Everett, passed away on Saturday, April 1st, 2017. He was born Saturday, October 5th, 1929 at his family home in West Providence Township, a son of the late Reuben Mills and Estella Mae (Sleighter) Mills-Bivens. On June 4th, 1955 at the Barndollar Methodist Church, which is now the Everett United Methodist Church, he married Madeline L. (Laher) Mills who passed away on June 15th, 2012. He is survived by their daughters, Sallie M. (Mills) Miller of Everett, Suzanne M. (Mills) Sushko and husband Adrian M. Sushko of Phoenix, Maryland, Five grandchildren, Dillon S. Appel and companion Carissa Sacchetti and her daughter Mila, of Lusby, Maryland, Jacob M. Appel of Lusby, Maryland, Rachel M. Appel of Altoona, Tatiana E. Sushko at home, Theodore R. Sushko at home, Dillon, Jacob and Rachel's father, Jeffrey S. Appel of Barton, Maryland Six nieces and nephews and their families, Arland Drenning, Cynthia (Drenning) Pittman, Rodney Drenning, Dennis Drenning, Bill Brown and Beverly (Brown) Strelau, and many more loving cousins, friends and church family. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, his stepfather Harvey W. Bivens and three sisters, Vada Brown, Sara Drenning and Marguerite Twigg. Mr. Mills was an active member of the Everett United Methodist Church where he served on the Finance Committee, the Staff Parish Relations Committee, the Administrative Board and the Board of Trustees and also served as Head Usher for over 25 years. Prior to moving to Everett, he was a member of the Clarendon United Methodist Church, Arlington, Virginia; the First United Methodist Church in Westfield, New Jersey, and Hunts Memorial United Methodist Church, Riderwood, Maryland. He was a 66 year member of the Everett Lodge #524 F&AM, a 32nd degree Master Mason with The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Harrisburg Consistory and was a member of The Jaffa Shrine of Altoona. A graduate of Everett High School, Class of 1947 and of the University of Pittsburgh, Class of 1954 where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Richard was just 11 years old when he began working with his family at their dairy farm hauling milk, working with his stepfather Harvey Bivens at his saw mill, also working as a mail carrier and for his sister Sara and her husband Herman Drenning at Drenning's 24-Hour Diner and Service Station in Everett, earning his way through his high school and college years. Richard then served in the United States Army Intelligence Center from 1954 through 1956 during the Korean War at the Fort Myer U.S. Army post, Arlington, Virginia, as a Private First Class, Cryptologic Specialist assigned to the Assistant Chief of Staff G-2, Intelligence, and Department of Defense also operating from the Pentagon. After his service to his country and marriage to Madeline, Richard began his career as a Staff Trainee with Western Electric Company, a subsidiary of AT&T, in Washington DC as an accountant, also studying towards his Masters Degree at American University. He then transferred to the company's New York City and Newark New Jersey offices where he was employed as a Service Planner, Methods Planner, Methods Specialist and Senior Methods Specialist, helping to maintain company strength through cost reductions and improving customer and employee relationships It was his work in New York and New Jersey that lead Richard to Western Electric's Cockeysville Maryland plant where he served as a Senior Methods Specialist for 17 years until retiring in 1985. He truly enjoyed being a gentleman farmer, riding and boarding horses with the help of his friend Tammy Steel, and being able to provide a location and the means for therapeutic riding at his Everett home for nearly 10 years. Richard also enjoyed keeping up on local and national news, studying finances, reading, and building his family's summer home in Everett where he and his wife would live after retiring. He truly loved the time spent with his wife and family, taking summer vacations to the beach and spending time with his grandchildren and friends. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 7th, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the Everett United Methodist Church with Pastor Fred Rudy officiating. Friends may call at the Church on Friday from 11:00 am until the hour of service and share memories online at www.dallavalle-everett.com. Burial will be held at Everett Cemetery with Full Military Honors conducted by the Everett Honor Guard. The Everett Lodge #524, F&AM will conduct services at the church on Friday at 12:40 pm. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Richard to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or by calling toll free 844-739-0849, or online at www.shrinershospitals.org.

Visitation Details

Friday, April 7th, 2017 11:00am - 1:00pm, Everett United Methodist Church

Service Information

Friday, April 7th, 2017 1:00pm, Everett United Methodist Church

Details:

Service Extra Info The Everett Lodge #524, F&AM will conduct services at the church on Friday at 12:40 pm followed by Full Military Honors conducted by the Everett Honor Guard.

Interment Details

Everett Cemetery

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