Carl "Gene" Eugene Mills

Carl Eugene (Gene) Mills died on April 30, 2020 surrounded by his family. Gene was born on August 8, 1926 in Newport, Tennessee to the late Jesse Rote Mills and Edith Holt Mills. He was raised in Swannanoa, North Carolina and graduated from Swannanoa High School in 1944. After graduating, he joined the United States Navy and proudly served his country in the Pacific during WWII, including Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Okinawa. After the war, he attended Warren Wilson College. In 1948, he married Patty Banner, his wife of 72 years. Gene worked for the A&P Tea Company for 38 years. An avid sports fan, after retirement, he enjoyed working for the Charlotte Knights baseball team, the Charlotte Hornets and Show Pro Entertainment. He was a long-time Clemson fan and was never happier than watching his Tigers play. Gene never met a stranger, and enjoyed nothing more than reminiscing and telling a good story. His greatest joy was his family and the time he spent with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gene's love of his hometown, Swannanoa, North Carolina, led him to write, "Another Time, Another Place". Gene was awarded a North Carolina Society of Historians Award in 2002.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bill Mills. Gene is survived by his wife, Patty, and his three children, Donna (Jim) Henderson, of Mocksville, NC; Gary (Carol Lou) Mills of Asheville, NC; and June (Bobby) Deas of Simpsonville, SC; six grandchildren, Heather (Wesley) Foster, Scott (Andra) Henderson, Haley (Stuart) Miller, Cody Deas, Alex Deas, and Jacob Deas; and seven great grandchildren, Luke, Ayden and Emmalyn Foster, Lachlan Henderson, and Holt, Beau and Case Miller; and a brother Kenny (Clara) Mills of Pineville, NC.

Great care was provided through Veteran Affairs and administered by Carol Lee Gore. Her love provided great comfort to our family.

There will be a private service for Gene at this time with a celebration of life service at a later date at his Church, Pineville United Methodist. Burial will be at the North Carolina Veteran's Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC. Condolences can be mailed to Patty Mills, 211 Pelham Lane, Fort Mill, SC 29715. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Gene's honor to Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 993, Rock Hill, SC 29731 or Pineville United Methodist Church, Golden Pines, P.O. Box 3, Pineville, NC 28134.

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