Max E. Mills passed away Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006 in Savannah, Georgia at the age of 58.
Born March 15, 1948 in Peru, Indiana to Carl and Betty (Brindle) Mills, he was a 1966 graduate of Peru High School. He joined the United States Navy in July 1967. During his time in Idaho Falls, Idaho he was a nuclear instructor at the Nuclear Power Training Unit.
Mills graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, and was commissioned as an Ensign. Prior service including serving aboard the nuclear powered submarine USS Barb, operating in the Pacific. In San Diego, Calif., he also served as Ship Superintendent of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, and as the Main Propulsion Assistant and Engineering Officer on the USS New Orleans for two deployments to the Western Pacific.
In 1984, Max received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif. From 1984 to 1988 he was the Senior Superintendent for the USS Stonewall Jackson and the USS George Bancroft at the Charleston Naval Shipyard in Charleston, S.C. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander from the United States Navy in 1988, and recently retired as a private engineering consultant.
Commendations awarded during his years of service are: National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal (awarded twice), Sea Service Ribbon, Battle Efficiency E, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. His affiliations include the American Legion, the Moose, and the Elks.
Survivors include his former wife, Judith (Blackman) Mills of Peru; two children, Christopher Mills and Patricia Mills, both of South Carolina; two grandchildren, Jason Wingate and Joseph Mills, of South Carolina. Other survivors include three brothers, Kevin (Cindy) Mills, Weatherford, Okla., John (Kim) Mills, Prescott, Ariz.; and Robert (Justice) Mills, Loveland, Colo.; two sisters, Ellen (Owen) Mock, Peru; and Sara Mills, of Warsaw.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bert Mills.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 1, 2006, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1818 West Main Street, Peru, with Pastor Kenneth Greenwald officiating. Burial will follow in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main Street, Peru, 4-8 p.m. on Thursday.
Military graveside services will be provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard.
