Francis Raymond "Frank" Mills, Sr. of Champaign passed away at 4:45 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton. A visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 7, 2014 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana. A funeral service will be held immediately following the visitation at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Rich Gregory will officiate. Burial will be held at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign, with the Urbana American Legion Post 71 providing military rites.

Mr. Mills was born June 6, 1932 in Tiskilwa, Illinois to parents Fred Raymond and Frances Marion (Barthelman) Mills. He married Mary Louise Syler in 1953 in Tiskilwa, Illinois, with whom he had six children. He later married Darlene Coffin of Urbana.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene (Coffin) Mills, of Champaign, children, Francis Raymond (Shirley) Mills, Jr., of El Cajon, California, Patricia Ann Kemp, of Bloomington, Judith Irene Mills, of Princeton, James Russell (Cindy) Mills, of Springfield, Carol Lee (Steve) Atkins, of Strongsville, Ohio, Thomas Alan Mills, of Princeton, brother, Richard A. (Barbara) Mills, of Princeton, nineteen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren. His parents, two sisters, and one brother preceded Frank in death.

Frank served for 21 years in the United States Navy as a Fire Control Technician, retiring in 1972 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. He later retired from the University of Illinois, where he was employed as a Janitor Foreman.

Mr. Mills was a long time member of Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Urbana, Illinois. He was also a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the 700 Club.

Frank served his Lord faithfully as the spiritual head of his family. His gracious nature and humor will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by those whose lives he touched.

Memorial contributions may be made in Frank's honor to Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church.