Osborne Mills, Jr. died on February 25th, 2025 surrounded by family after a years-long fight with cancer. He was born in Cleveland on July 11, 1947 to Osborne Mills and Margaret Swan Mills.
Os is survived by his wife, Loren Elizabeth Bendall; by his daughters, Victoria Ford Mills LaFave (Charles), Christine Mills Stovell (Peter), Margaret Osborne Mills and Anne Bendall Mills; by his three grandchildren, Katherine Monroe Stovell, Peter Osborne Stovell and James Whitford Stovell; by his younger siblings, Margaret Mills Plumpton (John) and Wiliam Mann Mills (Laurie); by numerous nieces and nephews; and by his former wife, Victoria Ford Pirchner. His beloved daughter Katherine Swan Berrian Mills and younger brother James Marian Mills predeceased him.
Os was a 1965 graduate of University School and a 1969 graduate of Dartmouth College. After Dartmouth he served three years active duty in the United States Marine Corps. He came to believe that, after family, his time in the Marines was one of the most beneficial experiences of his life.
Following the Marines, Os graduated from Case Western Reserve College of Law in 1975 and began a 45+ year career as a transactional lawyer. He retired from Squire Patton Boggs LLP in 2020.
Os loved outdoor work on his Ford and International Harvester tractors and with his chainsaw in his woods, and the resulting warmth of his wood stove. His true recreational passion, however, was canoeing and tent camping, especially in the Temagami region of northern Ontario, which he did for over forty years and as recently as 2023.
Services for Os will be held at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 on March 8th, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made either to (i) the Katherine S.B. Mills Fund at Laurel School, One Lyman Circle, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 or (ii) the Katherine S.B. Mills Fund at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118. For further information, directions, and to sign the guestbook, please log online to:

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Published by Cleveland.com from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Osborne Mills

Sponsored by The Family.

8 Entries

Raj Reddy

March 6, 2025

Deeply saddened by Mr Mills passing. He was a kind, gentle man and a wonderful father. I will always fondly remember the times I met him. Super pleasant. My thoughts are with you and your family. Namaste, may your soul rest in peace !

Tom Knutsen

March 5, 2025

I was truly shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Os' death, but more particularly, that my childhood friend had suffered long from cancer. Os was about as upbeat and energetic as anyone I knew. He always showed greater concern for others than for himself. In a University School soccer game, having must missed a shot on goal, Os turned to our coach and said, "Sorry, sir." As country boys, we did country dumb stuff together, culminating in riding our bikes into US for summer soccer practices. Once we went off into the military, we more or less lost touch, yet we re-connected a couple of times later in life during school reunions. He remained full of good humor as long as I knew him. I send sympathy to Laurie, his children, Vicki, Bill, and the rest of his family. Os was as good as we can get.

Jane Strauss Palmer

March 5, 2025

I am deeply saddened to learn of Ossie´s passing. Some of my fondest memories are of my early teenage years in Cleveland with my Laurel girlfriends and the U.S. boys we dated and socialized with including Os and his friends David Hopkins, Tom Knutsen, Walt Newcomb, Fritz Oldenburg. I remember so well our evenings at Mrs. Ford´s Dancing School at the Alcazar Hotel and the many parties given by the very generous U.S. parents where we "slow danced" to the music of Johnny Mathis and Paul Anka. I always greatly enjoyed seeing and chatting with Os when I would occasionally run into him at Dartmouth and also at many of the Four School Cocktail Parties at reunions. I know he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his wife, his children, grandchildren, Vicky, and his U.S. classmates. Jane Strauss Palmer, Laurel `65, Seattle WA

Amy Kirkhoff Carlson

March 4, 2025

Loren and to all of Os' daughters, I loved your Dad so much and was blessed to know him not just from Fairmount (he graciously joined the Personnel committee at my request!), but from Squire as well. He kept me - and this KeyBanker out of trouble many a time. He was the best and I will miss him. Very sorry to be out of town and unable to attend the funeral but sending my love and prayers to all of you. Much love, Amy

Katherine Petrey

Planted Trees

Doug Arnold

March 1, 2025

I met Ossie on the swim team at US. Even though a grade older I was fond of from the start. Always nice, smiling and modest. We saw each other over the years and it was always a pleasure to do so. Friendly, welcoming, a great sense of humor and despite his legal acumen he was always a just a handsome country boy.
My condolences to his extended family.

veteran

March 1, 2025

Thank you for your very brave service to our country ! God bless you

Charlie Sullivan

February 28, 2025

Mr. Mills (as he was known to me) was an inspiration and a figure we could all look up to. Even though he was much older than me, he still felt like a friend. He will truly be missed.

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