Dr. Earl Sidney Mills, Jr.

Dr. Earl Sidney Mills, Jr., August 16, 1929 – February 24, 2015, age 85, resident of Lynchburg, Virginia, after a courageous fight with liver disease, passed peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family and was welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven. Earl was born and raised in Michigan, where he received his doctorate in education. Before entering a long career in education, Earl worked as an engineer at Ingersoll Products and Borg Warner Corporation, he helped design a gyroscopically operated turret for military tanks that could keep the gun leveled on target as the vehicle moved swiftly across rough terrain. He also was a pioneer in aerospace metallurgy as he helped design the composition and manufacture of missile casings. In the field of education, he developed a master’s degree program at the Pentagon and served several colleges in administration. At Liberty University, Earl was responsible for designing many of the earlier buildings including the first phase of DeMoss Hall. He was also very instrumental in Liberty University’s original accreditation as the school grew from a small liberal arts college to the world class university it is today. During the 1980’s Earl received Jerry Falwell’s blessing to leave Liberty University for a few years to become the president of Christian Heritage College in El Cajon, California. When Earl returned to Liberty University he helped pioneer the school’s distance learning program which is today one of the largest in the world. His success and popularity with the growing faculty during that time is one of the chief reasons he was appointed as Liberty University’s first Provost. Because of his great accomplishments, a building has been dedicated and named after him, “Mills Hall” in North Carolina.

Earl was the last survivor of three children born to Earl Sidney Mill,s Sr., and Fannie Monroe Mills. Earl was also the dearly loved husband of 64 ½ years to Marvel Juanita Mills. Earl will be remembered by his wife; four children and their spouses, Marlene and Neil Brown from Michigan, Linda and Gaylen Leverett from Virginia, Tim and Libeth Mills from California, and Chris and Tony Alford from North Carolina. Grandchildren include Jason (wife Heather), Lisa (husband Eric Rasberry), Nathan Brown, Luke Alford, Chad Alford and Caitlin Mills. Earl also has four great-grandchildren.

Earl S. Mills, Jr. was involved in Gideon International. His own salvation experience was attributed to reading a Gideon Bible in a hotel room on a business trip. This no doubt led to his passion to pass out Bibles to various facilities for the Gideon’s. Earl touched the lives of so many people with his sense of humor, and his kind, humble and generous spirit. Earl loved talking about his heavenly Father and events happening in the world. He also anticipated the rapture and longed for Jesus to come back. His unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family, friends, and many supporters carried him through to heaven.

Funeral Services will be held at Forest Baptist Church, 1313 Two Church Lane, Forest, VA 24551 on Saturday, March 7, 2015. Family visitation will be at the church beginning at 10:30 AM. The funeral is scheduled at Forest Baptist Church the same day at noon.

Flowers can be sent to Tharp Funeral Home, 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502.

Memorial donations can be made to Tim Lee Ministries (timlee.org), PO Box 461674 Garland, TX 75046, or Gideon’s International, 1236 Grove Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502.