William Charles Mills – Monongahela
William Charles Mills, age 90, of Monongahela, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 19, 2021. He was born in Connellsville, on June 3, 1931, to the late William Henry and Sarah B. Perdue Mills. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Dora Mae Mills Young and Florine Mills Dover; and a brother, Percy Eugene Mills. W.C. Mills retired as a mechanical engineer from Combustion Engineering of Monongahela. He also worked at the U.S. Steel Plant in Monessen. At the age of 3, W.C. Mills began his music education from a Juillard School of Music teacher, Ada Buttermore Kunes, and continued his music education from Berkeley University of California. He was a recognized music teacher at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and other states. As an accomplished musician in piano and organ, he began playing piano in church at the age of 7. He also played for many of the churches in the Mon Valley and Greater Pittsburgh areas, accompanying their choirs and playing for their worship services. Several nightclubs in Pittsburgh, Ohio, New York and Chicago also enjoyed Bill’s performances with many bands such as Tiny Fry’s Orchestra, The Ronny Jones Quintet and others. Bill’s teaching career began in his teenage years, teaching children his age and younger at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Whitsett, Pa., and other churches around the Mon Valley area for 25 and 50 cents a lesson. As an adult, he taught piano and organ out of various music stores in the Mon Valley area, with “Music Unlimited” in Charleroi being one of them. He was the co-founder/director, along with his wife Irene, of the Music Ministry Training Program, establishing small music schools in several area churches in Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Fairchance, Greensburg, Irwin, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Pittsburgh and Uniontown. He and his wife Irene also created and published their own piano curriculum, “Music Ministry Training Program Beginner Primary Piano Curriculum.” To his students, Mr. Mills says, “It was a pleasure teaching you!” A music teaching website to honor his life may be accessed at www.millsmmtp.com. Bill leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 34 years, Irene Doris Terry Mills; and five children; Yvonne Renee (George) Lyon, William (Lugene) Mills, Michael Mills and Donna Romane, Katherine Mills and Eric Johnson and Eugene Mills; grandchildren, Dyan Renee Lyon, Christopher Lyon, Anthony Mills, Kimberly Mills, Justin Robinson, William “Will” (Sarah) Mills, Jacob Mills and Nicole Mills; great-grandchildren, Ariona Robinson, Anthony “JuJu” Mills Jr., Alexis Mills, Jacob, Isaiah Mills and Tylen Mills; siblings, Janet Louise Mills and Anthony James (Betty) Mills; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Professional services are entrusted to LANTZ FUNERAL HOME INC., 297 E. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a family service will be held to honor his life, which the Rev. Dr. William H. Terry will eulogize. Internment will be at Olive Branch Cemetery, Belle Vernon. Additional information may be accessed through https://millsmmtp/. Services will be livestreamed at 1 p.m. Monday, July 26, and access is available at www.lantzfh.com. Condolences and floral tributes may be submitted through www.lantzfh.com.
