William Mills
William James “Bill” Mills, 96, of Liberty Township, died Thursday afternoon, Oct. 16, 2026, at home with his children David and Janice present, following a stroke on Friday, Oct. 9.
Bill was born March 24, 1930, in Brooklyn, and was the son to William James and Esther Sweeny Mills. He married Ruth Harker Nov. 30, 1957.
Bill graduated from High School of Aviation Trades in 1947 and Erasmus Hall Evening High School in 1949. He graduated from Grove City College with a B.A. in history in 1953, and Princeton Theological Seminary with M.Div. in 1956. He also attained an M.S. in financial planning from The American College of Financial Services, a Chartered Life Underwriter Certificate (CLU) and a Chartered Financial Consultant Certificate (CHFC).
As an ordained Presbyterian minister, he pastored churches in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Lincroft, N.J. He continued with supply and interim assignments throughout his life, and also served the Presbyteries of Harrisonburg, Va. and Harrisburg and Erie, Pa. He began as representative for Presbyterian Minister’s Fund in Massachusetts in 1966, and later served as executive director of the United Methodist Foundation in Pittsburgh, director of fundraising at Harmarville Rehabilitation and estate planner at PNC Financial Services.
Relocating to the Grove City area in 1986, Bill and his wife attended Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock.
Bill is survived by a son, W. David (Jodi Barrett) Mills; a daughter, Janice A. (Michael) Cunningham, both of Grove City; three grandchildren, Samantha (Andrew) Huff, Toledo, Ohio, Jacquelyn (Nicolas) Elms, Elizabethtown, Pa., Daniel Mills, Prospect; and three great-grandchildren, Ariellah, Rowyn, and Liam. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth; his son, Stephen Mills; a daughter-in-law Mary Kay Mills; sisters, Esther Wood Albert and Elizabeth Lee; and a great-granddaughter, Amelia C. Elms.
MILLS — Visitation for William James “Bill” Mills, who died Thursday, Oct. 16, 2026, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City.
A funeral service will be held at noon Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Center Presbyterian Church, 211 Center St., Slippery Rock.
Burial is at Woodland Cemetery, Grove City.
Memorials in Bill’s memory may be made to Center Presbyterian Church, 211 Center St., Slippery Rock, PA 16057 or Grove City Community Library, 125 W. Main St., Grove City, PA 16127.
Online condolences at cunninghamfhgc.com.
Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.
