Walter Roy Mills

Walter Roy Mills

Walter Roy Mills, 62, of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at the Golden Living Center in Charlottesville after a brief illness.

Known to many as "Bear", and to his close family and friends as "Paw Paw", he lived all of his life in Charlottesville. Early in his working career he was employed as a forklift operator at Pepsi and then went on to work for H.T. Ferron as a yard foreman. Upon leaving H.T. Ferron, he went on to work for Classy Car Wash until he became disabled with his legs.

"Paw Paw" will be greatly missed by his family and especially by his grandson, Cory. He had numerous friends whom he used to spend most days with at Moore's Creek restaurant and Amoco, especially all the staff at "The Creek" , Harold, Elwood, Sandy, Timmy, Tonya, George, and Pastor Steve Holsapple. As well as spending time with friends, he loved playing cards, shooting pool and scratching Lotto tickets.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Mills; and his brother, Jimmy Mills.

Survivors include his mother, Maria Snead Proffitt of Charlottesville; his wife of 33 years, Mary Etta Mills of Crozet; his stepchildren, Charles "Lynn" Norford and his wife, Rhonda, and children, Justin and Amber of Altavista, Virginia; Jeffrey Allen Norford of Charlottesville, with whom he lived; Doris "DV" Oliphant and her husband, Sonny, and children, Cory, Nicholas and Mikayla of Barboursville, Virginia; and James Todd Norford and his wife, Kathy, and children, Elijah and Colby of Gladys, Virginia.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Golden Living Center and Teague Funeral Home for helping the family during this time.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate "Paw Paw's" life at Cornerstone Life Christian Church, 1309 Mountainview Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, 4 p.m. Saturday, November 21, 2009, with Pastor Steve Holsapple officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Cornerstone Life Christian Church.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.