Born 100 years ago at Wilderness Plantation, The Plains, Zachary, LA, Albert C. Mills, Jr. died early Tuesday, November 12, 2013. He was the son of Godly parents, Albert C. and Margaret Jane “Maggie” McKowen Mills. For his entire life he honored his father and his mother. He loved and remained faithful to his wife, Kathleen Louise Riddle for 71 years. They were married May 20, 1942 in St. Francisville, LA. Albert Mills stood firm and unwavering in his faith in God and trusted fully in His Son, Jesus Christ, for his salvation. He joined the Plains Presbyterian Church by profession of faith in 1923. An active member his entire life, he served as a deacon from 1936 until elected and installed as an elder in 1946. He was given emeritus status in 1990.
He diligently prepared himself for his life’s vocations. He attended the Plains Church one-room school for First through Third grades, and then went to Zachary High School where he graduated in 1930. He attended Davidson College in North Carolina for two years then transferred to LSU where he earned a BS degree in Agriculture Commerce in 1935. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served bravely in the United States Army in defense of his country during WWII. He trained men and operated postal service on both the East and West Coasts before being sent to England with his Army Postal Unit APO #544. He then served in Norway where he operated a P.O. for American Troops assigned to disarm German soldiers. He was discharged with honor and distinction with the rank of captain. He consistently provided for his family through hard work and sacrifice as a worker at Rhodes and Mills General Merchandise in Zachary, a manager at the Plains Store, as a cattle rancher, rural letter carrier for 30 years, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Zachary from 1956-1987, and avid gardener, skilled hunter and fisherman, organizer of Tri-Parish Co-Op, Officer of EBR Parish Farm Bureau and Member of the Cattlemen’s Association. His outstanding achievement was loving with devotion his wife, four children, nineteen grandchildren, and seventy great-grandchildren. He taught us how we should live the Christian life and serve God through humility, consistency of character, prayer life, family devotions, integrity, and Godly example. We praise God and thank him that we were blessed with such an honorable and loving husband and earthly father. He continues to be a living testimony to us all.
His example lives on. “”Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”” Job 12:12. Visitation will be at Plains Presbyterian Church, 22929 Old Scenic Highway 964 in Zachary, LA, on Friday, November 15, 2013, from 5pm until 8pm and then on Saturday, November 16, 2013, from 9am until funeral services at 11am, conducted by Rev. Bob Wojohn, Rev. Todd Lowery, and Rev. Campbell Silman. Burial will be at Young Family Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Kathleen Louise Riddle of St. Francisville; one daughter, Kathleen Davis of Zachary; two sons: Wilmer R. Mills and his wife Betsy Jennings Mills of Zachary; David P. Mills and his wife Mary Lynn Farmer Mills of Zachary; daughter-in-law Dotty Mills; sister Jane Mills Burk of Zachary; brother Gilbert C. Mills of Zachary; 19 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert C. and Maggie McKowen Mills; brother, Shannon Mills; son Albert Mills III; son-in-law John Mallory Davis; and grandson Wilmer Hastings Mills.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Carter Mills, Andy Mills, Stuart Mills, John Mills, John Dan Davis, Mallory Davis, “”Chip”” Mills, and Kirk Mills. Honorary pallbearers will grandsons-in-law: Clint Gardner, Darrel Zweigle, Michael Ackman, Charles Irby, Trace Pourciau, Jon Davis, Daniel Hogue, Ryan Dawson, and Madison Morris. Additional honorary pallbearers will be brother Gilbert C. Mills, brother-in-law Dr. N.B. Riddle, and nephews Shannon Mills, Jr., Robert Mills, Jack Burk, and Gilbert C. Mills, Jr. S
hare sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Plains Presbyterian Church Mission Fund.