Kenny Mills

Kenneth A, Mills, 66, died Friday at his rural northern Henry County home after a tenacious year-long battle against sarcoma cancer. It was his third separate cancer disease. Mr. Mills was born in Muncie on June 8, 1945, to James and Catherine (Hoyer) Mills. His father ran the Muncie city bus company for many years as well as used car lot, where Kenny began his lifelong career of tinkering with machines.He was a 1963 graduate of Southside High School and attended Ball State University. He joined the U.S . Marine Corps in 1969 and served as a lance corporal in Guantanamo Bay for two years.He learned his trade as a tool and die maker working in many machine shops around Muncie, before joining General Motors at Chevrolet-Muncie in 1980. In 1985, he transferred to Guide Lamp in Anderson where he worked until stage 4 tonsil cancer forced him into disability retirement in 2001.In 1983, Mr. Mills purchased a 20-acre property with a farmhouse built in 1916. He married Sally Jones on Aug. 6 that year at the farm. At this happy home, Mills Gaslight Manor, they raised many animals, produce, and three fabulous daughters.His hobbies included following the Indianapolis Colts, attending local car races, especially at Mount Lawn Speedway, and cooking.He was a well-respected handyman in Middletown, always accompanied by his beloved sheltie, Baby. He was maintenance man at the Middletown Library for many years and designed and built the pergola in the heirloom garden there.He was an active member of the Middletown United Methodist Church, where he served on the trustees committee, volunteered at the Good Shepherd's Closet, and organized the Sunday meals for many years.Survivors include his wife, Sally; three daughters, Elizabeth Anne ""Betsy"" Mills, State College, Pa., and twins, Amanda Rose ""Mandy"" Mills and Abigail Leah ""Abby"" Mills, both of Muncie; a son, Mark Mills, and a sister, Marcia, also of Muncie; a sister-in-law, Karen Mills, Hartford City; two brothers -in-law, Jeff Jones (Carla) Jones, of Gahanna, Oh., and Tom Jones (Maurie), Canton, Oh.; and seven nephews and one niece.He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, James Jr., and Donald Mills.Calling will be at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home, Middletown, from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Tuesday at the Middletown United Methodist Church with Pastors Charles McPeek and Marty Ballard officiating.Memorials may be sent to the Middletown Methodist Church, 625 High Street, Middletown, In. 47356 and the Middletown Public Library, 780 High St., Middletown, IN 47356.