Clark Mills

Greensboro, NC - Galial Clark "June" Mills, Jr., a devoted husband, father, grandfather and quiet pillar of every community he called home, died February 1, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 93.

To know Clark Mills was to know steadiness and warmth-whether he was helping a customer find the right bolt at his hardware store or teaching a grandchild how to bait a fishing hook, he offered the same gentle attention and unhurried kindness. He believed deeply that treating people well was both a joy and a responsibility.

To his family, he was Dad, Daddy, Granddad, Uncle June, Clark - the man who showed up, fixed what he could, prayed often, swore occasionally, and loved without reservation. His absence leaves a quiet space, but also a deep well of gratitude for a life that showed, day after day, how to be good, how to be faithful, and how to love fully.

Born May 2, 1932, in Parkersburg, WV, to G. Clark and Oma Hendricks Mills, he grew up in Elizabeth, where his athletic talents became local legend. He played football, basketball and baseball at Wirt County High School, and his football team's run to the state championship game is still remembered with pride. Just as formative was his involvement in 4-H, where his leadership and character earned him the organization's highest honor: All Star.

Across the street from his childhood home lived Joyce Evelyn Winter - they met in elementary school, and Joyce teasingly recalled that in the early days he just threw rocks at her from across the road. Clark always denied this, though usually with a grin that suggested there might be more to the story. They were high school and college sweethearts and shared 62 years of marriage before Joyce's death in 2019 - a loving partnership defined by handholding, shared laughter, and a deep, guiding faith.

After stateside service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he worked on radar systems for the Nike Ajax missile program, Clark graduated from Ohio University with a degree in business and accounting. He began his career with DuPont and later Borg-Warner Chemicals, building a reputation for diligence and integrity.

In 1981, Clark moved his family from Vienna to Beckley, WV, beginning a new chapter that would firmly root him in the life of that community. For over three decades, he owned and operated Beaver Hardware. The store thrived on a simple philosophy: "Be a good guy." Customers came for tools and supplies but often stayed for conversation, advice, and a bit of neighborly encouragement. Over time, the store became a gathering place, reflecting the warmth and decency of the man behind the counter.

At home, Clark was happiest with his hands in the soil. Every Mills household featured a generous vegetable garden, producing tomatoes, half-runner beans, squash and corn that made their way onto family tables and into neighbors' kitchens. He taught each of his children how to grow their own gardens, passing down not just skills but a love of tending things that grow.

He was also an avid outdoorsman and loved having a fishing rod or golf club in hand - especially along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where family vacations revolved around tides, tee times, piers and casting. His athletic ability was still evidenced well into his later years, when he could still surprise people with an exceptional golf game.

Family, faith and service were cornerstones of his life. Clark was an active member of Vienna Baptist Church and later the First Baptist Church of Beckley, where he served as a trustee, committee member and longtime chair of the Trustee Board. He helped found the Helping Hands Resource Center and supported literacy and children's programs alongside Joyce, volunteering with Read Aloud WV and Backpack Beginnings. He also served as treasurer of the West Virginia American Baptist Convention and was a longtime member of the Beckley Rotary Club.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018, Clark faced his final years with the same quiet grace that marked his life. Thanks to advances in treatment, he remained able to recognize loved ones, share his familiar smile and say "I love you" until the very end - gifts his family cherishes deeply.

Clark leaves behind his children, Lea Ann Mills Rodgers of High Point, NC, Jane Mills Davis (Kim) of Greensboro, NC and Prosper, TX, and G.C. "Tri" Mills III (Julie) of Fayetteville, WV, and 6 treasured grandchildren: Meghan Elisabeth Davis (Zidane Abubakar), Joshua Conner Davis, Maya Elizabeth Mills, Matthew Clark Rodgers, Catherine Beckett Mills and Landon Hicks Davis. He is also survived by his niece, Debra Winter Holley (Tim), and nephews, Steven Winter, Jim Winter (Tammy), Scott Winter, Jim Mills, and Rusty Mills. In addition to his parents and beloved Joyce, he was preceded in death by his brother, James Stewart Mills.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Terra Bella Assisted Living for the attentive care, warmth, and respect they showed Clark each day. Their kindness brought comfort to him and to all who love him.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 20, 2026, at noon at Grandview Park, Shelter No. 4, in New River Gorge National Park, when his beloved West Virginia will be in full bloom with abundant color and new life. The Celebration will be followed by lunch.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Helping Hands Resource Center at Beckley First Baptist Church (422 Neville Street, Beckley, WV 25801, https://beckleyfirstbaptist.org/give) or the Western Carolina Alzheimer's Association (4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209, https://www.alz.org/northcarolina/about).

His family hopes that those who knew him will remember his radiant smile and pass it on.