Shirley "Bob" Robert Mills

Shirley Robert Mills, “Bob”, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 1, 2026. Bob was born on January 30,1930. He was 96 years old at the time of his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley W. Mills and Nora N. Vaughn Mills and one older brother, Donald W. Mills.

Bob graduated from Middleport High School class of 1949 where he loved to play football as number 58. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and was stationed in Germany until 1953.

Bob married Joyce Marlene Fischer on March 11, 1951. They were married 75 years. They have 3 children, Robin M. Foreman (Tom), Mary L. Riley (Jeff), and David R. Mills (Sandy).

He has seven grandchildren, Christie Casto (Josh), Jenna Hawkins (Michael), Jonathan Foreman (Alycia), Daniel Foreman (Anna), Lacey Poole (Nathan), Sean Riley, and Logan Riley (Lauren). Bob has nine great-grand children, Kiera Frank (David), Kelsey Richmond (Ethen), Kassie Colburn (Auston), Owen Boring, Vivian Hawkins, Isa Jones, Lucas Foreman, Shepherd Poole, and Nash Poole. His great-great grandchildren are Tristin, Finlee, Cyrus, and Eliza Frank, River and Vaela Richmond, and Fletcher and Freya Colburn. Bob is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and friends.

From 1954 until his retirement, Bob was employed at Kyger Creek Power Plant. During his employment there he was involved in several different areas of operation including operating heavy equipment in the coal yard, being captain of the river boat, and supervising the summer interns of the college work program.

For several years Bob was a leader of Troop 245 of the Middleport Boy Scouts.

Bob loved Jesus Christ and felt compelled to tell others the Good News of Jesus. In 1961, Bob and his wife Joyce began their journey in helping start Southern Baptist missions in the local area. These missions over time grew into Southern Baptist Churches in Gallipolis, Pomeroy, Middleport, and Mason West Virginia.

On Sunday mornings before church service, Bob spent his time at the Middleport and Pomeroy jails teaching Sunday School for the inmates. This jail ministry lasted twenty years until 2020.

On April 4, 2026, Bob’s wife, Joyce Marlene Fischer Mills, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of the closeness of the timing of their homecomings, joint graveside services were held on April 7, 2026 and were officiated by Rev. John Pauley. These services were attended by immediate family at Meigs Memory Gardens.

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