William T. Mills

January 7, 1917 – April 6, 1999

William T. Mills was born on January 7, 1917 to Chuck and Sophie (Moore) Mills in Benton, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Charles and his first wife Antionette (Delkus) Mills. He is survived by his wife Linda (Holley) Mills of Portage, 2 daughters Pamela (Pat) Flach of Wakeeld, Rhode Island and Susan (Michael) Manion of Portage, 4 granddaughters Michelle (D. J. ) Dyer of U. S. Army in Anchorage, Alaska, Leigh Froehlich of Danbury, Conn., Brenda (Michael) Guth of Portage and Kristine Manion of Portage, 2 great grandsons; Mason Dyer and Drew Michael Guth.

Bill moved to Gary in his senior year of high school and graduated from Emerson High School in 1934. He took great pride in being included in the Benton, Illinois class of 1934 reunions as well. He joined the U. S. Army Air Corp with the 8th Air Force and flew with a B-17 Bomb Group out of Horham, England. He was shot down over a mission to Stettin, Poland in August of 1944 and he brought his plane into neutral Sweden where he was interned until he was returned to the United States in December of 1944. He stayed in the Air Force and flew 93 missions of the Berlin Airlift before being "riffed" in 1950. he joined the Air Force Reserve and traveled with them on several trips.

He earned his Bachelors Degree in Education from Indiana University and his Masters Degree from Purdue University. He taught math in Smithville, Indiana, East Gary and then he taught at Lew Wallace High School in Gary from 1960 to 1979, where he was a member of the American Federation of Indiana #4. He was a member of Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church. Bill was an avid Golfer until his health declined in 1993. He was a member of the Gleason Park Golf Club, The Turkey Creek Golf Club and the Hobart Elks Golf League. He achieved 3 Holes in One in his golng career. He was a huge sports fan and enjoyed bowling, reading and gardening. He loved to travel and watching the Bulls Basketball games, the Bears Football games and all the Indiana University games on television.

Friends may call Thursday, April 8, 1999 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Engel Funeral Home, 2700 Willowcreek Road, Portage, Indiana, 46368. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 9, 1999 at 10:00 a. m. at Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church, Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Portage. For information please call 219-762-8595. Memorials may be made to 95th Bomb Group (H) Association, C/O David E. Dorsey Treasurer, 125 Clark Street, Clark's Green, Pennsylvania, 18411.

Times, The (Munster, IN) - Friday, April 9, 1999