John Lamar Mills

1926 - 2023

Mills

John Lamar Mills

John Lamar Mills, 96, of Springfield, VA, died January 16, 2023. He was born on April 5, 1926, in Albany, GA, to Hugh Milton Mills Sr. and Johnnie Lamar (West) Mills. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Emory University and joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1950. He earned a Master's degree in Economics from Stanford University and attended Senior Training at the U.S. Naval War College during his time in the Foreign Service. He had diplomatic assignments to El Salvador, Libya, Venezuela, Bolivia, Iran, and Panama. After his retirement from the Foreign Service in 1981 he continued to work part-time for the State Department until December 2011, first as an escort-interpreter accompanying foreign officials touring the United States, then as a Senior Reviewer in the Freedom of Information office. He maintained his interest in government and foreign affairs throughout his life. His hobbies included genealogy, reading, hiking, gardening, and bridge. He loved to travel and continued to do so after his retirement from the Foreign Service, especially enjoying hiking, snorkeling, and the natural environment in places like Hawaii, Africa, the Galapagos, and French Polynesia. He lived in or visited 73 countries in all. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Carol Lemert Mills, and his three siblings, Emmett Mills, Hugh Mills, and Frances Syptak. Survivors include three children, Dorothy (Mark) Harrell of Lincoln, NE, John Mills, Jr. of Tucson, AZ, and Robert (Theresa) Mills of Alexandria, VA; granddaughters Melanie (Tyler) Delaney, Allison (Daniel) Hatch, and Hannah (Zachary) Evans, great-grandchildren Olivia, Owen, and Clayton Delaney, Josephine and Colin Hatch, and Theodore Evans. They, along with his many nieces and nephews, never tired of hearing the stories of his career and travel adventures and his opinions on national and foreign events. His gentleness, kindness, and tactfulness made him a role model for all of them.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at Greenspring Village Church, 7420 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA. The service will be followed by a reception. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made by check made out to "Benevolent Care Fund," mailed to Greenspring Philanthropy Office, 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA 22150.

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