Clayton Gardner Mills

Aug. 18, 1925 - Apr. 7, 2016 Clayton Gardner Mills was born August 18, 1925, at James Walker’s Hospital in Wilmington, NC. He passed away at his home in Troutman on April 7, 2016. He was the son of the late Gardner Max Mills and Cora Mable Lipe Mills. Also preceding him in death were his sister and brother - in-law, Martha and Connie Neal. Clayton was a graduate of Troutman High School, and was drafted into service May 11, 1943. Beginning his active duty December 2, 1943, he was part of the 182nd Combat Engineering group. In 1944 he completed three months training in New York for electrical maintenance and repair. He first performed his duties in the continental United States, and later in the European theater of operation. He was assigned with the 103rd General Hospital in England and with train hospitals. After the war ended, he was assigned to escort wounded soldiers by train to hospitals nearest their homes in the United States. He received an honorable discharge from the U. S. Army on May 9, 1946. Clayton was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Troutman. He was also a member of American Legion Post 401, where he served as commander. He was an excellent painter and carpenter, providing cabinets and professional building projects and repairs for many homes in the area. He helped build the Robert E. Lee Riverboat which sailed on Lake Norman in the 1960s. He sometimes served as Captain or as First Mate of the popular paddleboat. He retired from Blanton and Moore as a draftsman in 1987. Sixty nine and one-half years ago, on September 28, 1946, Clayton married Pauline Hoover Mills, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Ricky Dale Mills, and wife, Linda; three granddaughters, Jennifer Lee Mills Bowers (Johnny), Amanda Christine Mills Pennell, and Sarah Elaine Mills; one great-grandson, Mason William Pennell. The arrival of twin great-granddaughters is expected soon. A funeral service will be held in the chapel of Troutman Funeral Home at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2016 with Pastor Dieter Punt and Seminarian Will Dulin officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2016 in Iredell Memorial Gardens with military rites provided by American Legion Post 401. We wish to thank the most gracious health care providers who assisted Clayton in his home care for the last four years. They include the staff of Iredell Home Care for the first year and the staff of Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County for his final three years of life. Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, P. O. Box 308, Troutman, NC 28166; to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Drive, Statesville, NC 28625; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.