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John Mills Obituary
Wilmington, DE - John A. Mills, age 87, of Wilmington, DE passed away on April 20, 2018 with his family at his side.
John was a graduate from Blairsville (PA) High School. John went to Oklahoma University where he received his Bachelor and Master's Degree in Music Education. After graduation, he then joined the Air Force where he played in the band for four years. He started his teaching career in the Lord Baltimore School District, Ocean View, DE. He moved to Wilmington, DE and was a band director at Skyline and Stanton Middle Schools for 29 years. He retired in 1988.
John was a member of five bands: The Serenaders, Music Masters, Swing City and Steve Lewis and the Rhythm Doctors. He also played in two small assemblies, the Diamond State Quartet and the Limestone Clarinets. He was a lifelong member of two honorary fraternities, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi. He was also a 60 year member of the Ionic Masonic Lodge, Delaware Consistory and the Nur Temple and Shriner Club of Delaware.
Along with his love and passion for music and playing his clarinet and saxophone, he enjoyed playing tennis, spending time at the beach and crossword puzzles.
The family would like to thank Delaware Hospice for the care of John during his illness.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Mae; his son, Dr. Jay Mills of Indiana, PA, his daughters, MaryKay Mills and husband, Corey Bowen of Elkton, MD, Kimberly Renn and husband, Bryan of N. Myrtle Beach, SC, Pamela Sukeena and husband, Terry of Newark, DE, Jennifer Wong and husband, Kin of Newark, DE and his grandchildren, Laura Smith, Travis Whiteside, Jaime Hilliard, Stephen Chance, Samantha Netta, Shawn Sukeena and Kyler Wong and 3 great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his grandson, Aaron Mills.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, April 27 at 11 am at the Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Rd. Wilmington, DE 19808 where friends may visit after 10:30 with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Limestone Presbyterian Church at the above address or to Delaware Hospice, Polly Drummond Shopping Center, Newark, DE 19711.
To send condolences, visit: www.dohertyfh.com 302 999 8277
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Mills
Sponsored by Doherty Funeral Homes, Inc. - Pike Creek.
Michael Barry
August 19, 2018
8/19/2018:
My regrets that I didn't see Mr Mills's obit til today when I was looking at the JHDS reunion FB page.
Mr Mills was my band and music teacher in formative years of my at Skyline, a teacher buddy of my Dad's from their early years at Stanton JHS in the early 1960's, the father of my first girlfriend in 8th grade, and was a runner at least a decade before it was common to do so.
Quite a guy.
Just as my father passed in 8/2016, he will be missed; but he leaves good memories and inspiration to at least try to be the kind of person he was every day.
Alison Gier Totten
May 11, 2018
Like so many else here, I had Mr Mills as a band teacher at Lora Little and then Stanton Jr High. I too had the great good fortune to have him for some private lessons along with my sister Amy. The highlight of those lessons was when he would play as well. I see many clarinet players represented here! Good to see many familiar names and to read these stories. He was a warm, compassionate funny man who really seemed to like kids and had infinite patience with us!
Steve & Sue (Hunt) Vari
April 27, 2018
Mr. Mills was my instructor and band director at Stanton Jr High and my wife's at Skyline Junior High in the late 1960's. We remember him as a kind and encouraging teacher who cared about his students and loved what he did. His sense of humor was contagious.
I had the privilege of taking private lessons from Mr. Mills for several years at his home. He was always very kind to me and a personal mentor. His wife always made me feel very welcome in their home. One special memory for me was on the night of a spring band concert. I had a sax solo; and just before I played, he leaned over with a twinkle in his eye and said, "Show no mercy!" After all these years, I have never forgotten that; and I smile every time I think of him.
Jay, our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Your dad's legacy lives on in the students he taught and influenced.
Gary Waite
April 27, 2018
I was saddened to learn of Mr. Mills's passing. I was at Stanton Junior High from 1961-1964 and was fortunate enough to play the trumpet in the band and the dance band. Through the dance band, I was exposed to the music of previous generations. That exposure broadened my music horizons, and I am forever grateful. I continued to play through high school and college, and still play to this day.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
April 26, 2018
To the family of John A. Mills,
So sorry for your loss. What a wonderful music teacher and musician. His legacy carries on in so many students - not only with music, but with the respect and gentle manner he displayed. A real gem.
Caring thoughts to your family,
Kristina "Kris" Taylor
Bruce Maegly
April 25, 2018
It was honor to meet John by way of my in-laws, Al and Freida Berry. Being a band director and musician myself, John and I always had a great deal to talk over, discuss and share with one another. I will long remember sitting at McDonalds on a Thursday morning telling one another musician/ musical instrument jokes. It was a pleasure to get to know and enjoy my time with John. No doubt he had an immeasurable impact and influence on countless lives. Thank you, John - we will miss you!
Jim Murray
April 24, 2018
Very sad to hear of the passing of Mr. Mills. He was our band director when I was at Skyline Jr. HS in 1967 to 1969. He was a great mentor and loved all of his students. My Mom and Dad use to got to dances when Mr. Mills was playing with "The Serenaders". When they would play the Glenn Miller chart "Moonlight Serenade", my Dad would call me from a pay phone and hold the phone out so I could listen, it was a classic and so was Mr. Mills!
Linda Gattuso
April 24, 2018
In remembrance of a great music teacher and man. Prayers for his family.
Daniel Tobin
April 24, 2018
Mr. Mills taught not only taught me how to read music, but showed me how you can have fun doing what you love. I took lessons for 7 years, but the lessons he taught me influenced and improved the quality of my life and still do today. I attribute My appreciation for music and the arts to him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and will be sadly missed. Not only do I feel sorry for his friends and family but I feel sorry for the whole world. The world was a better place because of John Mills. My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Amy Gier Bland
April 23, 2018
Much love to Jay and MaryKay. I was one of his instrumental students for six years at Lora Little and Skyline/Stanton. Thanks to your dad who got me off on such an excellent start, I have had a wonderful professional instrumental career that continues today... His advice to me when I was embarking on a new position as a band director was to "just love them" [the students] just as he had done. He was so friendly and supportive of us all. I loved the look that came over his face in a challenging band rehearsal when he decided it was time for one of his many jokes... Somehow he kept smiling through the long years as your mom Pat's caregiver. She was my 4th grade teacher and the two of them were great favorites in my formative middle school years.
Mike Cannatelli
April 23, 2018
Mr. Mills, was a great guy. I took private Clarinet lessons from him, plus had him as my band director at Stanton Junior High, in 8th and 9th grade. He made music fun. He had a great sense of humor. He was a quiet guy. Easy to approach, easy to like. I remember that me and a fellow band member, who played Trumpet, started a combo. We played swing music, Tijuana Brass music, and pop rock. Anyhow, I wanted to write up an arrangement of Glenn Miller's String of Pearls for our combo. Mr. Mills loaned me his copy of the Glenn Miller arrangement, so I could get the sax solos and trumpet solos correct, like on the record. It was so cool to get to see an actual arrangement, that was just like the record, not someone else easy junior high version, but the real Glenn Miller chart. Mr. Mills encouraged us greatly with our combo even though we were just 9th graders. He could have easily blown us off and not bothered. Mr. Mills was a mentor, not just a teacher.
Arlene Smith Follmer
April 23, 2018
I was in Mr. Mills' band at Stanton Jr High from '65 through '67, and he is the teacher I remember best of all I had. He was fun, could pick out playing errors that no one else could hear. There was a strange new show on TV then called The Addams Family that had a distinctive musical theme that included finger snapping in the refrain. Mr. Mills arranged it for us to play, and snap. He was a quiet genius! But he did not make any big deal about his arranging skills. He also allowed me and encouraged me to play in the dance band as the first girl there. When I got to high school, I was not permitted into the dance band just because I'm a girl. Mr. Mills gave me my only opportunity to have that experience. He had a great impact in my life as a teacher, and I'm grateful!
My sympathies go out to you.
Mare Stovic
April 22, 2018
You guys are all in my thoughts. I will always remember how warmly he greeted me the first time we met, and how much he enjoyed his humor.
Mare Stovic
April 22, 2018
You guys are all in my thoughts. I will always remember how warmly he greeted me the first time we met, and how much he enjoyed his jokes.
Ron Brabson
April 22, 2018
Jay and Mary Kay
Your Dad was a true legend.
Thanks to him I am still playing clarinet.
My sympathies to all if you.
RAB
Gary Davis
April 22, 2018
I was saddened to hear about Mr. Mills today. He was the reason why I went into music and made it my life. From the beginning he encouraged me to be the best I could be. Started me in private lessons to help me grow even faster. He was a great music teacher and his passion for music always showed in everything he did. Thanks Mr. Mills for everything you did for me.
April 21, 2018
We are sorry for your loss, and may comfort from God carry the family through. John 3:16
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