William Arthur Mills Jr.

1953 - 2021

William Arthur Mills, Jr. 1953 - 2021
WHITESBORO- William Arthur Mills, Jr., 67, passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at home with his loving partner/husband and friend, Scott Molampy, by his side.
He was born in Utica, February 23, 1953, a son of the late William and Jeanette (Deitz) Mills, Sr.
Scott and William were together for 38 years. They met in Utica and were instantly kindred spirits. They met as two artists, Will a fine artist and masterful painter and Scott a commercial artist. They met in 1982 and left for NYC, in 1984. Will pursued his painting career by showing his art in various art galleries in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Wills art inspired so many others in the arts, as he worked endlessly from the 80's to 2012. With his partner, Scott, he formed a corporation called Geppetto Soft Sculpture, Inc. Also known as Geppetto Studios.
His co/ownership of Geppetto was so successful, due to the blend of these two forms of art expression. Wills knowledge of color was a huge attribute to the company. His collection of his paintings and drawings hang in his Whitesboro home to this day.
Will has a BFA in Fine Arts and studied at Maine College of Art. He traveled abroad to Spain, Morocco, France in his 20's and visited many Art Museums for inspiration. Will studied many religious faiths and was ordained as an interfaith minister in the mid 90's, at St. John the Divine Cathedral, Manhattan. He created an interfaith temple in his longtime apartment with Scott, in Carrol Gardens, Brooklyn. These 22 years were his most productive.
After losing his younger brother, John, in 2005, his mother, Jeannette, in 2012 and then his sister, Priscilla, in 2015, he and Scott returned back home to Whitesboro, after 33 years in NYC, to take care of his aging father. He moved his vast painting portfolio and business back to his original birth place. Geppetto is still thriving with his partner, Scott, continuing his creative gifts he gave to the company.
William is survived by Tracey Mills and her son, Grant Mills, (son of his deceased brother, John), Jason Warsala (son of deceased sister, Priscilla) and his wife, Suzanne and their two children, Jack and Julianne.
William will be cremated and his ashes returned to his husband in the house he grew up in. There will be no funeral or calling hours; this is the way he wanted it - just your loving support and wishes.
If you feel moved to make a charitable donation, please give it to any foundation for the Arts in his memory.
Arrangements are with the Dimbleby Funeral Homes, Inc., 40 Main St., Whitesboro, NY.
For online expressions of sympathy, please go to www.dimblebyfh.com.