Orville Mills

AUBURN < Orville (Bob) Mills, 84, joined the Heavenly Father on June 1, 2009, while a resident at Mercy Health & Rehabilitation Center of Auburn. Prior to his illness, he resided at 248 Wheat St., Cayuga, with a winter home in Punta Gorda, Fla. Orville was born on June 27, 1924 and was the son of Evalyn Mills. Upon her death, Orville spent his youth residing with Harlow and Reva Mills, of Port Byron. Orville is a graduate of Port Byron High School and attended Cornell University prior to joining the military during World War II. He served in the Army Air Corps while stationed in the Burma, China, India theatre of war. During his life, Orville was a farmer, truck driver, heavy equipment operator and mechanic. He worked for the construction contractor that excavated the new basin at Hibiscus Harbor and stayed on as yard manager until opening his own business in 1964. He owned and operated Lake View Garage in Cayuga where the motto was "We Tackle Anything," where he applied his skill and knowledge at repairing anything mechanical. Orville later combined his truck driving experience with his knowledge of boats to form Lake View Boathaulers, a trucking company that transported boats throughout the eastern United States. In 1981, Orville again exhibited his vision and "no job too big or too tough to tackle" attitude as he acquired and began dismantling the massive structures of the abandoned Beacon Milling Co. The site was cleared to create Beacon Bay Marina, where Orville worked until his retirement. Orville and his wife, Ruth, enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, taking many trips with the companionship of their in-laws, Bill and Agnes Carr and Bob and Doris Dawson. They also enjoyed the annual New Year"s Eve party where the same six couples met for more than 50 years for lively games of pinochle. Orville served the Lord as a trustee, usher and greeter for the Cayuga Methodist Church. He served as a Conservative Party committeeman and was elected first as trustee and then as mayor of the Village of Cayuga, serving 12 years in total. In 1999, Orville received the Dewitt Clinton Award presented by the Masonic Salem Town Lodge for outstanding community leadership in recognition of his service as the mayor of Cayuga. Orville is survived by Ruth Dawson Mills, his loving wife of 61 years; and by four sons, Robert (Shaye) Mills, of Somers, Conn., Roger (Maria) Mills, of Auburn, Russell Mills, of Rochester, and Ralph (Sharon) Mills, of Auburn. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Zach, TJ, Laura, Lisa, Mike, Chris, Rebecca and Simon. Friends are invited to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 5, at the Audioun Funeral Home, 218 Main St., Port Byron. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at the funeral home, with interment in Pine Hill Cemetery in Throop. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Cayuga Methodist Church, Center Street, Cayuga, NY 13034. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.